In 1925, a life-or-death race to rescue the children of Nome, AK, from disease made an international hero of one sled dog — and eventually led to the creation of Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race, the subject of NATURE’s SLED DOGS: AN ALASKAN EPIC.
In 1925, sled dogs helped stem a diphtheria outbreak. |
In January 1925, doctors realized that a potentially deadly diphtheria epidemic was poised to sweep through Nome’s young people. The only serum that could stop the outbreak was in Anchorage, nearly a thousand miles away. But the lone aircraft that could quickly deliver the medicine had been dismantled for the winter. In desperation, officials turned to a much lower-tech solution: moving the medicine by sled dog.
Soon, a musher embarked from Anchorage on the first leg of a remarkable dog-sled relay aimed at delivering the needed serum to Nome. More than 20 mushers took part, battling temperatures that rarely rose above 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and winds that sometimes blew strong enough to knock over sleds and dogs. Reporters brought news of the race to a world suddenly transfixed by the drama in the far north.
Incredibly, just six days later, on February 2, 1925, Gunner Kaassen drove his heroic dog team into the streets of Nome. In the lead of his team was a husky named Balto, whose furry face soon became known around the world. A year later, in honor of the epic trek, admirers erected a statue of Balto in New York City’s Central Park.
Balto became known around the world. |
Balto was suddenly a world-famous celebrity; for two years after the serum run, the dog and some of his teammates traversed the continental United States as part of a traveling show. After Balto died in 1933, his body was preserved and displayed at Cleveland’s Natural History Museum. In 1995, a popular animated movie about Balto was released, adding to his fame.
Long after his death, Balto’s popularity lives on. Today, some Alaskan schoolchildren are campaigning to bring Balto back to his home state. The students want his body moved to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race museum in Wasilla. But Cleveland officials aren’t ready to give Balto back, noting he spent more than half his life in their city. There are plans in the works, however, for Balto to return to Alaska as part of a temporary exhibit at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art — a testament to the strength of Balto’s memory and a fitting memorial to his indomitable spirit.
(62 votes)
Loading ...
I love Balto very much!!!!!!!!
P.S. My story this week in school is Balto The Dog Who Saved Nome.
Balto is awesome! I can`t wait to share this site with my friends!
P.S. I like the stauchue of Balto!
Balto was the best dog in the world that ever lived
Balto is amazing i wish I could have that dog he is my hero
P.S. he rocks my socks and sandles ox
you are so cool
u are sooooo koool………..
this is hard
that god was the best thing that ever happened
i like dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Togo did everthing bolto ran 20 miles togo ran over half of it
Balto is the best sled dog in the world,not only did togo bring to serum but balto brought it back to nome and togo got some of the fame too so there 50/50!! P.S This website is awesome, this helped me get a A!!!! thanks!
balto is cool!
that is sad that he died but, he shouldn’t be on desplay, e should be buried properly.
whats with all the comments that are too “fantastic”? There are people here who must be fake and get paid to do “wonderful” reviews that over emphasize what they are saying. This is an “okay” report but leaves out some good info that could be included. For example, they didn’t say what kind of dog balto was or anything about the musher. Some people would say this is poor and if this helped you get an “A” then i have no idea what kind of project you were doing because i highly doubt there is enough info on this page for 50 pts. I hope i have told you enough. I also doubt this comment will even be put on this page because of it’s negativeness and if it does get put on then it is only a matter of time before it is removed.
I learned much about Balto. I have the movie to and I
am proud of Balto. I think Balto is the strongest, bravest and best living dog ever.
I love this story soooo much and i just love dogs cats not so much
I LOVE BALTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IM IN SCHOOL I BLOWS I LOVE BALTO YAY!! VBALTO
Togo was the real champion, Balto and Kaassen stole their glory!
I like cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just as much as balto trust me love cheese
you smell like cheese joebob
hi im doing project about balto can you help!
I was born in alsska the dogs are awsome.
vgkgkebgvekbgvjuefghvulefwghvuylehwgv .I hhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeee BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balto is awesome!!!!!!!!!
i love balto i want to go to the muesum where his bones are.i wish i met balto he is so cool to me.i wished didn’t die.because he is cute to me very cute.
In school I have to do a presentation on dogs in the iditarod
bob
who’s togo?
DOGGYS RULE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT
balto is crazy and estupet
Balto is crazy and stupied.DOGGIES RULES.I love the story.Who is togo?Balto is awesome!!!!!!!!
bolto is a legend. i love him
Balto was a great dog dont get me wrong. But if your learning about him dont go by the movie or all of this ad. The real hero was Togo, a siberian husky. ON the serum run Togo was 12 years old!!! and ran most of the race, Balto was borrowed close to the end as a relef dog and wasnted wanted to be used as a lead dog but was just hooked on. Togo sire many champion pups, Balto was nutered as a pup (another thing the movie lies about) He MAY have wolf in him(no one knows, another made up part of the movie) but he was also mixed with many other kinds of huskeys. The reason Balto is so famous is cause he crossed the finish line. Then was sold with the team as show off dogs and then put in a musem where he was misstreated (another reason hes now so famous) someone reconised him and started a fund raiser to raise $2000 to buy him and the team which were moved to a zoo where they lived out the remainder of their life, a zoo… Balto died at age 11, a year younger than Togo when togo was in the serum race. togo died age 15 or 16. Balto is a great dog dont get me worng but he wasnt the best. He was known for being a bad leader and hes selfish ways kept him alive not his care for the musher… theres the true story on Balto…
I am so pationate for Balto that I am teased in school and calld wolf girl…even though Balto was not realy part wolf. He is my hero because I am learning disabled and not well like but I am like him and I perserviere, Also he was a dimond in the ruff a hiden promise in one so over looked and sene as a “least favoret dog” but he proved them wrong. My brother is like Togo as he is misbehaved and yet is a natural born leader, at least he uses his energy to create a legend for himself it is hard to explain! You may argue it but many people would suport me if I wqere to say that I may be Baltos number one fan and I am sure he is my Number 1 HERO!
Hey Balto hater up there, yes, Togo DID run more then Balto, but balto didnt just run 20 miles, he ran 53
PS- i think balto got too much credit, i love togo XD
we all love u balto u are so awsome i hope to visit ur statue in central park
balto is the best dog ever and togo was too they both should have statue EDDIE AND TYLER SELF HE IS THE BEST
it seemslike hes a preety ectrordonary dog we are reading about him in the book called incredible animal adventchers and the first book in it is balto he travld preety fair in just 5 in a half days that counts back too and a train is 25 days there and back.
Balto would have been a sight to behold. The very story has majesty and power wafting from it. I do understand greatly that Togo did run very far, and shoudl have recieved more credit,maybe having his body preserved or a statue erected. But though Balto was not the best or the real hero,he did benefit them,at least. I believe his legacy is acceptable. BUT NEVER GO BY THE MOVIE…it is good,but not exactly….correct.Storryseeker,we have something in common,except I am called INSANE wolf girl.
i love balto he is my hero.!!!!!!