Almost anywhere else on Earth, it's a bad idea to build your home on an outcropping of volcanic rock. In Antarctica, it's a necessity. It is that rare point of rock that has given man his strongest foothold in the unforgiving wilderness at the bottom of the planet. In fact, this is the closest piece of rock to the south pole that is still accessible by ship. McMurdo Station is a collection of laboratories, observatories, dormitories (such as the Hotel California and the Mammoth Mountain Inn), canteens, a clinic, firehouse, television facilities, bowling alley, barber shop, gym, three bars, a coffee house, support buildings, and even an aquarium designed to shelter and protect the scientists and adventurers who journey to this frozen land. In all, there are about 100 building in the station which sports a helipad, three airstrips, and a harbor, though most of these are built on ice rather than land. Though the population of McMurdo Station rarely exceeds 1,100 people its remote location and eclectic inhabitants carve a sense of community out of adversity. The headquarters of this community is a building known as The Chalet. It is where the United States representative in Antarctica, and the heads of other American interests in the pole are located. It is also the central point of communication via short wave radio and satellite. Another point of interest is "Scott's Hut" (formerly known as Discovery Hut) -- the building British explorer Robert Falcon Scott's party built in 1902 when they explored the bottom of the world. Because of the cold, dry Antarctic air the hut is preserved as it was in 1904 complete with food and supplies 100 years old. When the first modern explorers arrived to build a permanent beachhead on this continent, they erected a tent city which they lived in until prefabricated buildings could be unloaded and assembled.

• Because of the climate and terrain, all utilities are above ground. This includes water lines, sewer lines, telephone lines, and electric lines.
• 1841 - James Clark Ross discovers the Ross Sea, the Ross Ice Shelf, and Ross Island where McMurdo Station is.
• McMurdo Station is named after Archibald McMurdo, a Lieutenant on board the ship Terror.