The Monument to the Antarctic Treaty commemorates the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty, which was opened for signing in 1959 and came into force in 1961. The monument stands near the Frei,

Bellingshausen Bellingshausen may refer to: * Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778–1852), Baltic German explorer and officer in the Russian navy, after whom are named: ** Bellingshausen Plate, a tectonic plate ** Bellingshausen Sea, off the Antarctic Peni ...

and Escudero research stations on the Fildes Peninsula of King George Island in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The monument was designed and built by American Joseph W. Pearson and offered to Chile. It was unveiled in 1999, on the 40th anniversary of the signatory opening of the Antarctic Treaty. The monument carries four subsequently placed

plaques Plaque may refer to: Commemorations or awards * Commemorative plaque, a plate or tablet fixed to a wall to mark an event, person, etc. * Memorial Plaque (medallion), issued to next-of-kin of dead British military personnel after World War I * Pla ...

in the official languages of the Antarctic Treaty (English, French, Russian and Spanish). These were installed in February 2011 with the English version reading:

“This historic monument, dedicated to the memory of the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty, Washington D.C., 1959, is also a reminder of the legacy of the First and Second International Polar Years (1882–1883 and 1932–1933) and of the
International Geophysical Year The International Geophysical Year (IGY; french: Année géophysique internationale) was an international scientific project that lasted from 1 July 1957 to 31 December 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific ...
(1957–1958) that preceded the Antarctic Treaty, and recalls the heritage of International Cooperation that led to the International Polar Year 2007–2008.”

The monument has been designated a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 82), following a proposal by Chile to the

Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting russian: link=no, Договор об Антарктике es, link=no, Tratado Antártico , name = Antarctic Treaty System , image = Flag of the Antarctic Treaty.svgborder , image_width = 180px , caption ...

References

Historic Sites and Monuments of Antarctica King George Island (South Shetland Islands) 1999 establishments in Antarctica {{KingGeorgeIslandAQ-geo-stub