Mary Dodson Wade - Amazing Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson

To the North Pole

Read about Matthew Hensonthe first African American to reach the North Pole.

Young readers will learn just how amazing some Americans are as they pore over the pages of these biographies.

The text is lively and informative, and it highlights the achievements of a man too long forgotten. I also genuinely appreciate the focus on a black historic figure whose importance derives from scientific accomplishments.

About the Author

Author Mary Dodson Wade is a book lover, a people watcher, and a compulsive writer. She spent 25 years as an elementary librarian, surrounded by things she loved.

Matthew Henson was born in 1866 on a farm in Maryland. When he was young, both of his parents died. He left his home to find work on a ship. Years later, he became the first African American to reach the North Pole.

Matthew Henson explored the Arctic with Robert Peary.

Matthew was only 12 when he went to sea. He cleaned cabins and helped the cook. The captain taught Matthew how to read and write. He even taught him how to navigate using stars. Then the ship captain died. Matthew went back to Washington, D.C. He got a job in a store.

Matthew Henson sailed out of shipyards like this one.

One day, Robert Peary came into the store. He was going to Central America to explore. The store owner said Henson would be a good helper.

For more than a year Henson worked with Peary. Henson knew how to build things from wood. He could fix machines. He even helped plan where to put roads.

Matthew Henson, in the back, worked with Peary in Central America.

Peary wanted to be the first man to get to the North Pole. He knew Henson was strong and smart. He asked him to join the crew of his ship.

He knew Henson could do things that would be helpful on the journey. He asked Henson to join his crew. They boarded the ship and set sail for the cold Arctic.

Robert Peary on the deck of a ship. He was trying to reach the North Pole.

The ship landed near an Inuit village. When the people saw Hensons dark skin, they thought he was Inuit too. Henson learned to speak their language. He became a good dog sled driver. He helped Peary make maps.

Henson and Peary tried to reach the North Pole many times.

Henson and Peary would not make it to the North Pole on this trip. They tried six more times, but storms and ice always stopped them.

Finally, on April 6, 1909, Henson and Peary got to the North Pole. It had taken them eighteen years to get there.

Matthew Henson learned how to drive a dog sled.

Robert Peary became a famous man. Because Henson was African American, nobody talked about what he had done. It took many years before he was given any awards.

Peary took a picture of Henson and the four Inuit who reached the North Pole with him.

Matthew Henson was 89 years old when he died on March 9th, 1955.

Today, he is remembered as one of the worlds greatest explorers. He never gave up on his goal of reaching the North Pole.

In 1942, Matthew Henson received a gold medal from the Geographic Society of Chicago.

It was many years before Matthew Henson became famous. The U.S. Navy gave him a medal. A TV movie called Glory & Honor was made about him. A postage stamp honored him.

What do you think would be the best way to honor him?

Matthew Henson wrote a book about going to the North Pole. In it, he said, The lure of the Arctic is tugging at my heart. The word lure means something that pulls you toward it.

What place is your favorite place? Why do you like to go there?

1866

Born in southern Maryland.

1887

In Central America with Robert Peary.

18911892

First trip to the Arctic.

18931895

Second trip to the Arctic.

1896

Third trip to the Arctic.

1897

Fourth trip to the Arctic.

18981902

Fifth trip to the Arctic.

19051906

Sixth trip to the Arctic.

19081909

Reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909.

1955

March 9, died in New York City.

ArcticThe part of the world around the North Pole.

Central AmericaThe land between North America and South America.

explorerSomeone who travels into unknown areas.

InuitA group of people who live in the Arctic.

navigateTo find the course or location of a ship.

Armentrout, David and Patricia Armentrout. Matthew Henson. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing, 2003.

Honea, B. A. Matthew Henson. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2006.

Weidt, Maryann N. Matthew Henson. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing, 2002.

Matthew Henson, Arctic Explorer

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/h/henson.shtml

Clara Barton NHS
5801 Oxford Road
Glen Echo, Maryland 20812

A

Arctic, 10

awards, 17

C

Central America, 9

H

Henson, Matthew, 56, 910, 1314, 1718

I

Inuit, 13

M

Maryland, 5

N

North Pole, 5, 10, 14, 18