Find More! Click⇨ Iditarod
The race pits man and animal against nature,
against wild Alaska at her best and as each mile is covered, it is a tribute to
Alaska’s history and the role the sled dog’s played. The Iditarod is a tie to
that colorful past.The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic
Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of
Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to
the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and
Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were
made, legends were born. In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life
saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome.
Diphtheria threatened and serum had
to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving
dogs. Throughout the years, the sled dogs were important to day to day life in
the villages and throughout Alaska. All of these examples and more are a part
of Alaska’s history.