Memorial to Richard Byrd

The memorial to American polar explorer and aviator Richard Byrd, officially named the New Zealand National Memorial to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, was unveiled on 11 March 1962, the fifth anniversary of Byrd's death. The memorial stands below the lookout on Mt Victoria, Wellington. It consists of a monument in the form of a polar tent, the front of which is built up with rocks from Antarctica. The sides were originally covered in white stucco but were reclad in the early 1990s with ceramic tiles depicting auroras, designed by artist Doreen Blumhardt. At the centre of the monument is a bronze bust of Byrd made by Thomas V. Johnston. Byrd faces out of the polar tent towards the sea and Antarctica. Underneath the bust are three plaques which commemorate his achievements. The original plaques were damaged or removed and were replaced during the restoration of the memorial in the early 1990s. Another plaque was added noting the rededication of the memorial on 21 June 1993. It also commemorates Paul Siple, another Antarctic explorer who served in all of Byrd's expeditions.
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