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History

A Gathering Place

In May 1904, a group of men active in exploration met at the request of Henry Collins Walsh, to form an organization to unite explorers in the bonds of good fellowship and to promote the work of exploration by every means in its power.

Famous Firsts in Exploration

For more than a century, members of the Club have traversed the earth, the seas, the skies, and even the moon, on expeditions of exploration.

Carrying the Flag

The Explorers Club flag represents an impressive history of courage and accomplishment and has been carried on hundreds of expeditions by Club members since 1918.

Presidents of the Club

Beginning with the appointment of A. W. Greely as its first president in 1905, the Club’s Board of Directors appoints a new president, or reappoints the incumbent, at its Annual General Meeting.

First Class of Women Members

In 1981, women were admitted to The Explorers Club for the first time in the Club’s history.

Samples from the Collections

Research Collections is devoted to historical material, including information on Club members no longer living. View images of original documents by our charter members, or research the Club’s deceased members files.

Explorers Club Oral History

What does it mean to be an explorer? And what does it mean to join The Explorers Club? By preserving the stories of our members through interviews, we preserve the story of our institution as a whole.

The Explorers Club Veterans Documentation Project

The Library and Archives Committee at The Explorers Club is building a permanent collection to honor both national and international members who are veterans of wars. Originally inspired by a survey of WWI veterans already in the Club archives, the goal is to establish an ongoing collection that will document service past and present for future access by our members, their families, and researchers. For further details, or to make submissions, please see the current Veterans Archive statement.