Celebrate 135 Years of Exploration with National Geographic Travel Near and Afar

National Geographic celebrates 135 Years of Exploration

For more than a century, National Geographic has been igniting the explorer in all of us, and today we at National Geographic Live and National Geographic Expeditions are thrilled to be celebrating the Society’s 135th anniversary. Whether you want to stay home in your backyard and wander to your local performing arts center to escape for an evening or seek to travel thousands of miles away to the furthest corners of the world, we offer an exciting array of programming that will take you on global adventures – no matter which offering you choose.

National Geographic Live, the events division of the brand, brings to life the real and remarkable stories of explorers from around the world and has been sharing their tales from the front lines of observation for more than 25 years across North America.

During live events, rare footage, iconic photos, and other-worldly journeys and findings are showcased live on stage as thrilling stories of triumph, resilience, and hope are shared from renowned photographers, scientists, filmmakers, and adventurers. From dinosaurs and the Big Bang to helping create one of the largest conservation projects on the planet, here are some of the exciting shows presented over the next several months that will take you from surface and sky to the lowest sea floors:

  • Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous: Spinosaurus was nearly lost to science before Nizar Ibrahim, a remarkable young paleontologist, discovered this prehistoric giant. With amazing video recreating the lost world of the Cretaceous-era Sahara, he tells the story of Spinosaurus’ discovery, loss and rediscovery, and explains what—other than its size—makes this ancient monster unique.
  • Greenwood: A Century of Resilience: A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, African Diaspora Archaeologist Alicia Odewale is uncovering stories of resilience in the hundred years since the attack on Black Wall Street in the city’s historic Greenwood district. Join her to discover how archaeology and radical mapping can be used as a tool for recovering lost stories, reclaiming a narrative, and pursuing restorative justice.
  • Nature Roars Back: For a six-part PBS/Nat Geo International series Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and wildlife filmmaker Bob documented the rebirth of a lost Eden: Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, a jewel of Africa’s parks system until civil war almost destroyed it. There, he joined forces with rangers and scientists (including his sister, renowned elephant researcher Joyce Poole), on perhaps the biggest conservation project on the planet—and learned that the wild places we’ve broken can be put back together.  
  • From Shallows to Seafloor: Marine biologist Diva Amon’s research on unusual deep-sea habitats and species has taken her to extraordinary depths in some of the remotest parts of the planet. Dive in with her to get to know the fascinating creatures in each unique layer of Earth’s massive underwater habitat.

Nowhere else in the world can you engage with a National Geographic expert like this! To see where you can see any of these amazing speakers and explorers in the coming months or learn more about National Geographic Live and our upcoming events, visit our website.

  • Improbable Ascent: Paraclimber Maureen Beck learned how to rock climb one-handed through trial and error—one of her early adaptive climbing innovations involved taping a metal ladle to her arm. It wasn’t long before she was tackling some of the hardest climbs by a one-handed athlete. With her trademark humor and wit, this 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will chronicle her journey as one of the foremost leaders in the sport of paraclimbing.
  • Life on the Vertical: Legendary climber and National Geographic adventure writer Mark Synnott made his name as a big wall pioneer with numerous first ascents. Today, he helps scientists make significant findings in distant, inaccessible places. Through it all, he’s stayed on the leading edge of discovery.

Similarly, National Geographic Expeditions builds upon the brand’s rich legacy and invites travelers to embrace the world firsthand — up close and in depth — and be inspired by the experience. If you are looking to add a little or a lot of travel to your 2023 plans, why not see the world through the eyes of National Geographic? Check out the many ways you can experience the wonders of the world in an enriching, knowledge-filled expedition! And check out our latest river cruise news here.