Scott's Discovery Hut at Hut Point is just a few minutes hike from McMurdo Station.
The hut was constructed in 1902 during Scott's 1901-04 Expedition, and was intended for
storage, emergency shelter, and use as a theater for the crew. George Vince died in
a storm trying to get to Hut Point from Cape Crozier. The hut was occupied
in 1911 and 1912 during Scott's Terra Nova Expedition. Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition of
1907-08 was based at Cape Royd's (see our  excursion there in another entry), but used Discovery
Hut as an advance camp for Shackleton's Pole attempt. Shackleton, with Wild, Evans, and
Marshall, came within 100 miles of the South Pole before having to turn back for lack of food.
Marshall collapsed from starvation and exhaustion 33 miles from Hut Point, two days before the
scheduled departure of the Nimrod from McMurdo Sound. Leaving Adams to tend to Marshall,
Shackleton and Wild marched non-stop for 18 hours to reach the Point and signal the ship
before she left. They attempted to burn a small outbuilding from the Discovery Expedition to
signal the Nimrod, but were unsuccessful. Fortunately the Nimrod returned anyway and Shackleton
led a party to rescue Adams and Marshall.

In Scott's 1915-17 Aurora Expedition, six of the the party marooned at Cape Evans attempted a
Depot Journey with makeshift equipment, laying supplies for Shackleton's planned trans-Antarctic
march. Spencer-Smith died of scurvy one-day's march from Hut Point. Mackintosh and Hayward
are sick with scurvy but Joyce, Wild, and Richards get them to Hut Point. The men spent five months
in the Discovery Hut. Partially recovered, Mackintosh and Hayward perish when the ice is blown
out to sea as they attempt to reach Cape Evans. The three surviving members of the party return to
Cape Evans and are rescued by Shackleton.

Approaching the hut:

A view of the Hut, note the skylights:

Inside, the walls and ceiling are sooted up from the blubber stove used by Shackleton's Depot party.
The wood is beginning to deteriorate, perhaps a result of the hut being filled with
snow and ice on many occasions.. In evidence are various stores, a mound of seal blubber, and
a small room containing mutton carcasses. Here are a few shots of the interior:

Outside, we climbed  a hill overlooking the Point. On the top is a memorial to George Vince.
The shadows are always long here; the memorial is between us. I'm the one waving.

The panorama beckons- some views enroute: