At the North Pole Robert  Edwin Peary (1856-1920), was an American explorer who is usually credited as the first person to reach the North pole on April 6, 1909, or 16th. However the only evidence that supported his claim were his journals. In 1996, a copy of Peary`s personal record was discovered and using these documents it was shown that Peary was at least 20 miles short of North Pole. He set off with 23 men, but by the time he reached the North Pole only five of his men remained. He is buried in Arlington national Cemetery. First under the Artic first at the North Pole-USS Nautilus, SSN-571 and USS Skate, SSN-578. In the summer of 1958 in a top secret mission called Operation Sunshine the Nautilus was ordered to sail from Honolulu to Portland, England, passing under the Arctic ice cap. At the same time the Captain of the Skate, Commander James F. Calvert, was ordered to sail to the Arctic to "develop techniques for surfacing in ice packs". The Nautilus passed under the North Pole on August 3rd, 1958, surfacing beyond the ice cap 5 days later. Captain William Anderson radioed the historical message: "Nautilus ninety north". She was under the polar ice for 95 hours, traveling 1830 miles. The voyage was perilous. The waters under the ice cap were uncharted, and the Nautilus was virtually blind, except for sonar and a television camera to look up at the ice. The Skatepassed under the North Pole nine days after the Nautilus. Near the Pole she surfaced in a polynya, a sheet-ice skylight, using her great weight to break through the ice. The Skate broke through the ice eight more times during that voyage. In 1962 the Skatesurfaced at the Pole it self. During those first voyages to the North Pole it was discovered that neither magnetic nor gyro compass could be relied on these latitudes and are of any use. Thus the inertial navigator had to be developed and install. Back to history index Image Country Year Description United States 1959 51st anni' reaching north pole (1909-1959).R.Peary and SSN-571 Nautilus United States 1959 50th anni' reaching north pole (1909-1959).R.Peary and SSN-571 Nautilus United States 1959 50th anni' reaching north pole (1909-1959).R.Peary and SSN-571 Nautilus United States 1959 50th anni' reaching north pole (1909-1959).R.Peary and SSN-571 Nautilus