When LEGO pays tribute to history
On December 5, 1914, Shackleton and his crew left Grytviken, South Georgia, with the aim of reaching the South Pole. But in February 1915, the ship was trapped by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. The men remained on board until October 27, when cracks threatened the integrity of the ship. The Endurance remained afloat for a few more weeks before sinking on November 21.
The 28 members of the expedition set up camp on the ice, using the lifeboats they had salvaged earlier. They waited until April 1916 before finally setting sail in the lifeboats for Elephant Island. Each man could carry only 2 kilos of personal belongings, but a banjo was kept, declared vital by Shackleton to sustain the crew's morale! From this island, the captain and a few companions set off on a final 2-week leg to South Georgia. Landing on the wrong side of the island, they crossed on foot under extreme conditions to reach the whaling station at Stromness. After 4 and a half months of attempts, Shackleton finally managed to return to Elephant Island to save the rest of his crew.
History attributes the survival of the Endurance's crew to the extraordinary leadership of its expedition leader and his optimistic morale. A century later, in 2022, 100 years after the death of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the wreck of the Endurance was found intact in the icy waters of Antarctica.
In 2024, for all fans of miniature nautical replicas, LEGO is launching the Icons L'Endurance set (10335) as a tribute to this landmark story.
A faithful replica of naval engineering
Comprising 3,011 pieces, the LEGO Icons L'Endurance set faithfully reproduces the majestic three-master, with its 10 unfurled sails, fluttering red flag and intricate rigging. The deck, structured on several levels linked by staircases, features removable sections for viewing the interior, including the cabins of Shackleton and the expedition's scientist. The set also includes 4 removable lifeboats, a davit anchor and a rudder connected to the steering wheel. For this function, LEGO model designer Jean-Baptiste Schlömer explains that he designed a tiny integrated gearbox.
To design this replica measuring 47 cm high, 80 cm long and 24 cm wide, the LEGO team took the lifeboats as a starting point, reproducing them at as detailed a scale as possible. This approach made it possible to calculate the overall dimensions of the boat, while keeping the structure realistic and accessible to builders. While the original Endurance could accommodate 28 men, this scaled-down version focuses on the emblematic elements of the expedition. In order to restore the authenticity of the three-master, a number of technical and aesthetic choices were made, including the use of new colors to reflect the boat's authenticity.
A three-masted ship built to last
Designed to withstand extreme conditions, the Endurance was equipped with a triple-expansion steam engine, essential for operating in Antarctic ice. Faithfully reproduced on the LEGO model, this engine, in its original version, reached the size of a two-storey house.
As for the Endurance's hull, combining oak, pine and guaiac wood, it conferred unequalled robustness. This exemplary resistance was reflected in the discovery of the wreck in 2022: the name "Endurance", in gilded letters on the stern, and its gold star were still visible, unchanging in the face of time.
This exclusive model is available for ?269.99 from the official LEGO online store and authorized retailers. An invitation to rediscover a page of nautical history, brick by brick.
