The 1925 Nome Serum Run: Dogs, Mushers and a Race to Save Lives

In the winter of 1925, Nome faced a serious diphtheria outbreak. The town's only doctor, Curtis Welch, had found that the hospital's antitoxin had expired, and infections were spreading. Since ships could not reach the icebound port and planes were unsafe in the stormy weather, a relay by dog sled was organized. The antitoxin was moved by train to Nenana, and from there twenty mushers were tasked with carrying the serum across the frozen trail. The relay was planned quickly, and roadhouses and villages along the route were used as rests and handoff points.

Over five days the teams covered about 674 miles, with more than 150 dogs taking part. Leonhard Seppala's team, led by the dog Togo, ran the longest and most dangerous stretch, while Gunnar Kaasen and Balto finished the final leg into Nome. Despite blizzards, frozen temperatures and whiteouts, the glass vials were protected and none broke. The serum reached Nome on February 2, 1925, and the town's outbreak was brought under control. The event is remembered as the 'Great Race of Mercy' and it helped highlight the skill of Alaskan mushers and their dogs.