ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The historic mining town of Nome is bracing for a challenging winter, much like it did a century ago when it found itself isolated due to harsh weather conditions, including severe blizzards and an icy sea. At that time, the town faced a dire situation, grappling with the spreading of a highly contagious disease known as diphtheria, which posed a particular risk to children.
Fast forward to today, and Nome is reflecting on its remarkable past, particularly the sled dogs and their mushers who embarked on a harrowing journey lasting over five days through extreme cold, perilous winds, and whiteout conditions, all to deliver crucial serum to save the town from the epidemic. The community is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the “Great Race of Mercy” through various events, including lectures, a dog-food drive, and a reenactment of critical segments of the relay, organized by the Nome Kennel Club.
Diana Haecker, a member of the kennel club and co-owner of the Nome Nugget newspaper, emphasized the importance of honoring the efforts of these mushers and their dogs. “We wanted to shine a light on mushing as a vital part of Alaska’s culture,” he said. “People spontaneously dropped everything to help; they got their dog teams ready despite the frigid conditions.”
Other towns are also recognizing this poignant anniversary. Nenana, where the relay began, and Cleveland, Ohio—home to the famous Balto, a husky mix who played a key role in the serum run—are participating in celebrations. Jonathan Hayes, a resident of Maine, is retracing the historic route with 16 Seppala Siberian sled dogs, descendants of the original team.
Diphtheria, a severe airborne illness, causes a constricting film to form in the throat, once leading to numerous childhood fatalities. The antitoxin to combat it was created in 1890, followed by a vaccine in 1923; cases are now very uncommon in the U.S. In 1925, Nome had a population of about 1,400, and its most recent supply shipment had come before the sea froze, lacking vital doses of the antitoxin. Local physician Curtis Welch possessed some outdated supplies but hadn’t encountered any cases of diphtheria in nearly two decades, leading him to feel secure.
That sense of security was shattered when a telegram sent by Welch to the U.S. Public Health Service warned that a diphtheria outbreak was nearing. The first casualty occurred on January 20, 1925—a 3-year-old boy, soon followed by a 7-year-old girl. The city then went into quarantine as cases quickly mounted.
While hospitals on the West Coast had the necessary antitoxin, logistics proved challenging as it had to be transferred to Seattle and eventually shipped to Seward, Alaska’s only ice-free port. Meanwhile, an Anchorage hospital provided doses for 30 people needing immediate treatment.
Given the weather conditions, planes were deemed unusable, and with no roads leading into Nome, the decision was made to transport the serum by rail to Nenana, around 675 miles from Nome, navigating frozen rivers and mail routes. The nation’s attention was captured as they followed the journey, which involved 20 mushers—many of whom were Alaska Natives—and over 150 sled dogs overcoming immense challenges including severe snowdrifts, whiteouts that made it difficult to see, and bitterly cold temperatures that dropped to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The vital serum was securely transported in glass vials, all of which arrived safely. Legendary musher Leonhard Seppala set out from Nome to meet the sled teams carrying the serum, with his lead dog Togo covering a grueling distance of over 250 miles, including a perilous section across frozen waters.
After approximately 5.5 days, the serum successfully reached Nome on February 2, 1925. The San Francisco Chronicle heralded this achievement with the headline: “Dogs victors over blizzard in battle to succor stricken Nome.” Despite the official count reporting five fatalities and 29 illnesses, it is believed the true impact was greater, particularly among the Alaska Native population who went unregistered.
Balto, one of Seppala’s dogs but initially considered too slow for competitive racing, gained fame when he was driven into Nome by his handler Gunnar Kaasen, overshadowing Seppala’s team. Balto became a celebrated figure, remembered through movies and statues in places like Central Park in New York and Anchorage. Additionally, he received honors like a key to Los Angeles from actress Mary Pickford. Unfortunately, after his retirement, Balto and some of his teammates ended up in poor conditions at a museum before being rescued by an Ohio businessman, later culminating in Balto being mounted and displayed at a museum in Cleveland after his death in 1933.
Today, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the most notable dog mushing race in the world, pays tribute to the legacy of the serum run, even though it follows a different route from Seward to Nome. Organizers are commemorating the centennial with articles and replicas of the medallions awarded to the mushers involved in the original serum run, with this year’s race scheduled to begin on March 1. “The Serum Run underscored the essential role sled dogs played in the survival and communication of remote Alaskan communities, while the Iditarod stands as a celebration of that tradition and Alaska’s resilient spirit,” a spokesperson noted.
