This simple cotton sunhat has quite a story. It has been to the top of the world’s highest mountain and is now cared for by Canterbury Museum.
Sir Edmund Hillary wore this stripped cotton sunhat when he climbed Mount Everest in 1953. Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest at 11.30 am on 28 May 1953. They only stayed at the summit for about 12 minutes before starting the journey back down the mountain. News of their achievement reached England on the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and it was seen as a coronation gift.
The sun hat was made by Sir Ed’s sister-in-law for him to take to Everest.
The sunhat was gifted to Canterbury Museum by Sir Edmund Hillary on 10 April 1972, at the launch of the Museum’s Appeal for the Antarctic Gallery.
