1820    Edward Bransfield sights the Trinity Peninsula and claims the discovery of Antarctica.

1820    Captain Nathaniel Palmer becomes the first American to see Antarctica (the Palmer Peninsula is later named after him).

1838    The Wilkes Expedition, which would explore the Puget Sound and Antarctica, weighs anchor at Hampton Roads in 1838

1840    Captain Charles Wilkes circumnavigates Antarctica, claiming what became known as Wilkes Land for the United States.

1840    Dumont D'Urville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica.

1912    The frozen bodies of Robert Scott and his men are found on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.

1935    Caroline Mikkelsen becomes the first woman to set foot in Antarctica.

1938    Norway claims Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.

1961    Cold War: the Antarctic Treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on the continent, comes into force after the opening date for signature set for the December 1, 1959.

1962    The United States Atomic Energy Commission announces that the first atomic power plant at McMurdo Station in Antarctica is in operation.

1979    Air New Zealand Flight 901, a DC-10 operated sightseeing flight over Antarctica, crashes into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board.

1983    The world's lowest temperature is recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica at {{convert|-89.2|°C|°F}}.

1990    The first all woman expedition to the south pole (3 Americans, 1 Japanese and 12 Russians), sets off from Antarctica on the 1st leg of a 70 day, 1287 kilometre ski trek.

1997    Boerge Ousland of Norway becomes the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided.