Take the Virtual Tour!

We are so excited you decided to join us! Neptune Mountaineering is not just your friendly, knowledgeable, and family-owned gear shop, the famed Neptune Museum displays one of the most extensive collections of mountaineering artifacts in the country

Travel back in time with stories, photos, and gear from the earliest expeditions in mountaineering history - boots from Hillary's summit of Mount Everest, pitons from the first ascent of the Eiger, and fur suits for warmth in Antarctica.


The following is a series of short videos of Gary Neptune discussing a few of his favorite exhibits in the Neptune Museum.


Click the links below to get a history lesson from Gary.


 
How it all got started. Gary Neptune introduces Neptune Mountaineering and the origin of the Neptune Museum.


Gary takes us back to climbing in the 1800s. Long ice axes, hobnail boots, and rope-soled shoes. "On Belay?"


The innovations begin and climbing hardware starts to take shape.


Thin air, down suits, and frozen digits


Gary shows us skis and bindings from the early 1900s through World War II, XC race skis, and the evolution of alpine touring bindings.


Gary shares his best avalanche advice and showcases Nordic-style ski boots, the 3-pin binding progression, and avalanche safety cords.


The 10th Mountain Division revolutionized mountain warfare abroad and they were instrumental in allied victories during WWII. After the war, they worked to refine equipment and techniques, and usher in skiing and climbing as recreational pursuits.


Shrinking ice axes and sketchy pro.


Oscar Eckenstein designs a superior crampon, and Henry Grivel agrees to manufacture them. Yvon Chouinard and Doug Robinson inspire a generation of young climbers to put down their hammers and pick up their nuts.


Royal Robbins brings the first "nuts" over from England. Rock climbing protection shifts from pitons and hammers of the '50s to removable nuts and spring-loaded camming devices, and the mountains rejoice.


Ever the innovators, ice climbers of the '60s and '70s begin to design ice tools for steeper, overhanging ice climbs. Steeply drooped picks offer great purchase but are awkward to place and hard to clean. In the 1970s the French introduced a strange, but effective concept. These relics are far from the lightweight, ergonomic tools we use today, but with each decade new and creative designs emerge.


A young French climber's love of Fontainebleau's sandstone boulders leads to the development of soft, rubber-soled shoes designed specifically for rock climbing.
You'll have a whole new respect for those TC pros after you watch this video.