Abstract Following the 1895 Sixth International Geographical Congress declaration that Antarctica was the greatest goal in exploration, an intensive period of Antarctic Exploration (1895–1922) was ushered in with multiple expeditions to the South Polar regions. These often included geological exploration in their scientific programmes. During this period, evidence for the geological links between the Antarctic Peninsula and the Andes was gathered, the outline stratigraphy of the Transantarctic Mountains deciphered and the first studies of Antarctica’s palaeontology undertaken, in addition to the attainment of the Geographical South Pole.