Grytviken Signage Complete

The whaling Station at Grytviken, the oldest and most important of the industrial sites on the island, was in a hazardous condition by the mid 1990's.

The station had deteriorated through exposure to the harsh South Georgia climate - to the point where it was too dangerous to allow visitor access.

After an extensive clean up and remediation work done in 2004, it became safe once more to enter the Whaling Station at Grytviken.

However, once the work was complete, much of the industrial equipment that was previously hidden was brought into view. Ships that had sunk into their moorings alongside the crumbling jetties were pulled up onshore and preserved.

It was felt that some explanation of the building layout and processes that went on in the Station was needed. In 2005, a proposal was put forward to create information signage to enable the visitor to interpret what was left on the site, and to understand the scale and context of life in a whaling station.

A set of signs containing images and text relating to the whaling station buildings at Grytviken have now completed production, and will be shipped to South Georgia for the forthcoming tourist season.

The text and images were provided by Bob Burton, newsletter editor, SGA, and Bjorn Basberg, Professor of Economic History in Norway, and a Trustee of SGHT. The words, photo images and design were put together by Stephen Ellis.

Example of the layout of text and image on the Grytviken signs

The signs are due to arrive in South Georgia in November 2006, so the tourists can enjoy them in the coming season.

Click on a link below to see the full-screen picture of a sign.

1. Flensing Plan	8. Villa, Offices and Stores
2. Blubber Cookery	9. Accomodation
3. Meat Plant	10. The Church
4. Bone Cookery	11. Petrel and Workshops
5. Separator Plant	12. Freezer Plant and Livestock
6. Meal Plant	13. Louise and Power Plant
7. Ships and Jetties	14. Cemetery