this idea of an open polar sea. there was a lot of mythology about what might be up there. it drove people crazy not to know. >> host: in that era, what was it like undertaking an expedition like that? >> guest: well, this was shortly after the civil war. emerging from that in trying to leave its imprint on the world in some way and to compete with european powers that had done really all the exploration at that point. so in order to undertake an expedition like this it took a certain amount of money and organization. the navy had to become involved because of their explorations have been conducted and had shown what happens when you go into the arctic. it has to be very well organized or you get cam in the bosom or scurvy and all the classics basically. this expedition was very well organized and they avoided all three of those things. no scurvy, no cannibalism and no mutiny. however the navy at this time, the u.s. navy was in its infancy and was really weak and quite poor. so they have to find a sponsor, someone to pay for it. that is why this is this unique hybrid of bei