Ages 8 to 14 years. The quest to find a Northwest Passage from Europe to Asia took centuries to complete. Many explorers were sent to find the legendary route, with one of the most famous voyages commanded by Sir John Franklin in the mid-1800s. This trip would end with the disappearance of the British naval officer and his entire crew. Learn about the life of this driven explorer and the Arctic voyages that would make him famous. Other topics include: the importance of the Northwest Passage to European commerce; the area of the Arctic mapped by Franklin; the rescue parties sent to find him; what really happened to Franklin and his party; life aboard an Arctic sailing vessel; surviving the harsh Arctic weather; the lives and customs of Inuit peoples and how they played a part in the Franklin expeditions.