Explorers Club St. Louis

A diverse group of prominent explorers founded The Explorers Club®, Inc. (TEC) in 1904 and incorporated it in New York in 1905 “to further general exploration, to spread knowledge of the same, and to encourage explorers in their work.” It is now an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration, and the idea that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. The Club’s efforts in research, education, and public service include orientation of young people toward careers in all field sciences, engineering and conservation. The encouragement of scientific exploration of land, sea, air and space, with particular emphasis on the physical and biological sciences, is its mission. As The Explorers Club®, Inc. moves into its second century, the importance of its mission remains as powerful as ever.

As a world center for exploration, The Explorers Club®, Inc. has provided a unifying force and comradeship for explorers and scientists worldwide since its formal incorporation. Membership is open to qualified individuals/corporations that serve the Club’s goals by undertaking a significant role in the many fields of exploration and science. The Club consists of approximately 30 chapters around the globe, but the majority of its 3,500 members reside in the U.S. All continents and more than 60 countries are represented in the Club’s membership. Today the list of Explorers Club® members who have contributed to the world’s knowledge is long and impressive and continues to grow as members pursue the exploration and goals pioneered by the founders.

An array of disciplines, including archeology, physics, zoology, anthropology, oceanography, astronomy, ecology, paleontology, and aeronautics have been represented over the years. This membership has included those in: polar exploration – Amundsen, Shackleton, Scott and Admirals Peary and Byrd; aviation – Lindbergh and Yeager; underwater pioneers – Ballard and Earle; astronauts – Aldrin, Armstrong, Carpenter, Glenn, Musgrave, Schirra and several cosmonauts; mountaineers – Hillary, Tensing Norgay and Lord Hunt. Other illustrious members represented are Lowell Thomas, Jane Goodall, Louis and Richard Leakey, the Roosevelts (Franklin, Theodore, Kermit and Anna), Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler.

Courage, determination and perseverance are the core values that explorers need to achieve their inspired mission goals. The Explorers Club-St. Louis Chapter believes in the collaboration of science, research and exploration to allow for the curious to find new discoveries to benefit humankind, the earth and space.