Work documents American explorations to the Arctic. Also gives brief information on explorations performed by countries other than the United States. Details Alexander Dallas Bache's involvement with the Arctic explorations, Charles Francis Hall's three voyages, the Polaris expedition, the A.W. Greely expedition, the Wilkes Expedition. A chapter, "Explorations in Northern Alaska," focuses on Smithsonian collectors in Alaska, including Robert Kennicott. There are also several brief mentions of persons associated with the United States National Museum.