Category Archives: Alaska History

Leonhard Seppala

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Leonhard Seppala, who would, like Scotty Allan, win three Sweepstakes championships, became a living legend in Alaska, and in his own autobiography, Seppala, Alaskan Dog Driver, written with Elizabeth Ricker, he described a harrowing event which took place during his first … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged All Alaska Sweepstakes, Elizabeth Ricker, Leonhard Seppala, Scotty Allan, Seppala, Suggen | 2 Comments

Alaskan Roadhouses Review

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The Anchorage Press features a great review of my latest book, Alaskan Roadhouses, in the January 14 issue. I love what David Fox wrote about my book: “In Alaskan Roadhouses, Helen Hegener reconstructs the scant history of these establishments and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, Book Reviews, books, David Fox, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Roadhouses, S. Hall Young, Samuel Hall Young, sled dogs, The Mushing Parson, Yukon River | Leave a comment

BLM Alaska Sled Dog History

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Helen Hegener

An in-depth and interesting series of articles about the history of mushing in Alaska can be found at the BLM Alaska web site, including the article, From Babiche Webbing to Kevlar Runners—An Intro to Alaska Dog Mushing History. The emphasis is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, BLM Alaska, Bob Griffis, Harry Revell, Iditachat, Iditarod, Iditarod National Historic Trail, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog racing, sled dogs | 1 Comment

Along Alaskan Trails

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Helen Hegener

Along Alaskan Trails, Adventures in Sled Dog History, by Helen Hegener, is a collection of true stories about Alaskan sled dogs and the role they played in the development of the north, with dozens of historic photos from the archives … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, All Alaska Sweepstakes, “Iron Man” Johnson, Baldy, Balto, Chester Noongwook, Chinook, Emiu, Ernest de Koven Leffingwell, Fritz, Helen Hegener, Hudson Stuck, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Joe Redington, Jujiro Wada, Leonhard Seppala, Mary Joyce, military sled dogs, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Rembrandt, Richardson Trail, Scotty Allan, sled dog mail, sled dog racing, sled dogs, Slim Williams, Split the Wind, Togo, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail, Wolf | Leave a comment

The All Alaska Sweepstakes

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The colorful history and the enduring legacy of the All Alaska Sweepstakes, the oldest organized distance sled dog race in the world, includes records kept by the Nome Kennel Club dating back to the first race in 1908. The race route … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Candle, Helen Hegener, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Leonhard Seppala, Mitch Seavey, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dogs | 1 Comment

Slim Williams

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Helen Hegener

Alaska Highway Trailblazer Clyde “Slim” Williams arrived in Alaska in 1900 at the age of 18 and spent the next thirty years trapping, hunting, and blazing trails throughout the frontier. In the early 1930’s Williams became a strong proponent of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Highway, Helen Hegener, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, sled dogs, Slim Williams | 3 Comments

The First Iditarod

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The First Iditarod: Mushers’ Tales from the 1973 Race, by Helen Hegener. The First Iditarod shares the history of the first running of The Last Great Race, and most of the book is comprised of the verbatim words of mushers … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, sled dog racing | Leave a comment

Mother Martha White

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The world traveler and lecturer Frank G. Carpenter wrote widely of his travels in Alaska, and in the April 5, 1917 issue of Moderator-topics he wrote about several notable women of the territory, including the Anchorage pioneer, Mother Martha White: … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, Cook Inlet, Edwin F. Glenn, First Spike, Frank G. Carpenter, Hope, Martha White, Mother White, Sunrise, Turnagain Arm | 4 Comments

Delta News Web Article

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The Delta News Web, which serves the communities of Delta Junction, Big Delta and the surrounding area in northeastern Alaska, at the junction of the Richardson Highway and the Alaska Highway, features an article about four roadhouses in that part … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Roadhouses | Tagged Alaskan Roadhouses, Black Rapids Roadhouse, Delta News Web, Helen Hegener, Rika's Landing, Rika's Roadhouse, road houses, Roadhouses, Sullivan Roadhouse, Yost's Roadhouse | 2 Comments

Roadhouse Videos

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Helen Hegener

Alaskan roadhouses are a popular subject for video photographers, as shown in the three videos below. All of these roadhouses are included in the new book from Northern Light Media, Alaskan Roadhouses: Shelter, Food and Lodging Along Alaska’s Roads and … Continue reading →