Tag Archives: Nome

Alaskan History, Vol. 4, No. 2

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Helen Hegener

The second issue of Volume 4 of the new revised Alaskan History Magazine includes the story of W. A. Dickey, the man who renamed Denali in 1896. Also in this issue: The history of Deering; an excerpt from G. O. Young’s classic ‘Alaska Yukon Trophies Won and Lost,’ about a hunting party traveling to McCarthy 1919; the Iditarod Trail and its proximity and relationship to Anchorage; the story of Moosemeat John Hedberg, who homesteaded near Kenai and became an Alaskan legend; and an excerpt from L.H. French’s book, Nome Nuggets: Some of the experiences of a party of gold seekers in northwestern Alaska in 1900. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaskan History Magazine, Explorers, Gold Rush History, Hunting, Iditarod, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Denali, G.O. Young, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, John Hedberg, McCarthy, Moosemeat John, Mount McKinley, Nome, Nome Gold Rush, Northern Light Media | Leave a comment

Sled Dogs in America

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Helen Hegener

The important place of sled dogs in American history as portrayed by the sled dog paintings of Veryl Goodnight is the subject of this new book from Northern Light Media: Sled Dogs in America: The Art of Veryl Goodnight, by Veryl Goodnight and Helen Hegener. The historically accurate paintings by the award-winning Colorado artist have elevated the history of sled dogs to an exhibit at the prestigious Smithsonian-associated Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Gold Rush History, Iditarod, News & Information, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races, Transportation | Tagged Alaska, Balto, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dog race, sled dogs, travel, Veryl Goodnight, writing | Leave a comment

Ordering Books

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Helen Hegener

Books by Alaskan author Helen Hegener, including The History of Sled Dogs in North America, The Alaska Railroad, Alaskan Roadhouses, The First Iditarod, The Matanuska Colony Project and many more. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, Book Reviews, Books, Colony Barns, Explorers, Gold Rush History, Iditarod, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, Roadhouses, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races, Yukon Quest | Tagged Alaska, Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, All Alaska Sweepstakes, barns, gold rush, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Klondike gold rush, Matanuska Colony, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Revenue Cutter Service, Roadhouses, sled dogs, Yukon Quest | Leave a comment

A News Spot about Hope ’91

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Helen Hegener

The book about the Hope ‘91 sled dog race is in the final stages, the proofing copies are next, and after both Jon and I have had time to thoroughly proofread the book, I’ll make any changes or corrections we … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Information, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Hope Race, Jon Van Zyle, mushing history, Nome, Sled Dog History, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Alaskan Roadhouses

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Helen Hegener

Alaskan Roadhouses: Shelter, Food and Lodging Along Alaska’s Roads and Trails, by Helen Hegener This 284-page book presents historic photos of dozens of individual roadhouses, along with the colorful histories are first-hand accounts of those who stayed at the roadhouses … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Information | Tagged Fairbanks, Judge James Wickersham, Leonhard Seppala, Nome, Roadhouses, Samuel Hall Young | Leave a comment

Alaskan Roadhouses

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Helen Hegener

This 284-page book presents historic photos of dozens of individual roadhouses, along with the colorful histories are first-hand accounts of those who stayed at the roadhouses while traveling the early trails and roads of Alaska, including the Reverend Samuel Hall Young, Frank G. Carpenter, Judge James Wickersham, Leonhard Seppala, Col. Walter L. Goodwin, and Matilda Clark Buller, who opened a roadhouse near Nome in 1901, at the height of the Nome Gold Rush. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Roadhouses | Tagged Alaskan Roadhouses, Col. Walter L. Goodwin, Fairbanks-McGrath Trail, Frank G. Carpenter, Helen Hegener, Jim Reardan, Judge James Wickersham, Lake Minchumina, Leonhard Seppala, Lone Star Roadhouse, Matilda Clark Buller, Nome, Sam O. White, Samuel Hall Young, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail | Leave a comment

Leonhard Seppala House

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Helen Hegener

The Leonhard Seppala House was named as one of the Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties for 2020 by the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, Inc., which is dedicated to the preservation of Alaska’s prehistoric and historic resources through education, promotion and advocacy. Preservation of the built environment provides a vital link and visible reminder of the past, emphasizing the continuity and diversity of Alaska. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Gold Rush History, News & Information, Sled Dog History, Sled Dog Races | Tagged Balto, Fritz, Leonhard Seppala, Nome, Seppala House, Togo | 1 Comment

Togo’s Serum Run

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Helen Hegener

As the worldwide fight against the coronavirus goes on we are reminded almost daily that pandemics and epidemics have happened before, and we have struggled through them with far fewer resources and much less medical and scientific knowledge than we have now. That is a very real comfort, and lends a bit of perspective to what we are facing. One such epidemic was a deadly diphtheria outbreak which raged across Alaska almost 100 years ago. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, News & Information, Sled Dog History | Tagged Bering Sea, Bluff Roadhouse, Dexter Roadhouse, diphtheria, Dr. Curtis Welch, Elizabeth Ricker, Golovin, Governor Bone, Iditarod Trail, Isaac's Point, Kaltag, Leonhard Seppala, Manley Roadhouse, Minto Roadhouse, Nenana, Nome, Nulato, Olson Roadhouse, Port Safety Roadhouse, Scott Bone, Seppala, Serum Run, Shaktoolik, Siberian huskies, Solomon Roadhouse, The Cruelest Miles, Togo, Tolovana Roadhouse, Unalakleet, Unlakleet | 1 Comment

A People at Large

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Helen Hegener

That more or less indefinite region north of the Yukon known as the Chandalar Country owes its name to one given by the early French-Canadian traders of the Hudson’s Bay Company to the singular native tribes that ranged there. Because these came from none knew where, recognizing no boundaries and taking to themselves no local designations, they were called gens de large––people at large. With peculiar fitness the name applies to all Alaskans, for in more ways than one we are a people at large. Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information | Tagged Anchorage, Chandalar, Chitina, Copper-Tints, Cordova, Eustace P. Ziegler, Fairbanks, Gulkana, Hudson's Bay Company, Iditarod, Interior, Juneau, Katherine Wilson, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Koyukuk, Kuskokwim, Nome, Nushagak, Paxson’s Roadhouse, Porcupine, Sitka, St. Michaels, Strelna or Kennekott, Tanana, The Trail | Leave a comment

Sled Dog Movies

Posted on December 7, 2019 by Helen Hegener

Last year, 2018, was noted by the Chinese calendar’s zodiac as being the Year of the Dog, but this year, 2019, seems to be the Year of the Sled Dog, as film after film featuring heroic sled dogs is released to movie theaters and home streaming services. There are two movies about the great Serum Run to Nome during the 1925 diphtheria epidemic, one focusing on the champion musher Leonhard Seppala, and the other on his favorite lead dog, Togo. One is an independent production, the other is from the powerhouse film company Disney Studios, but both are absorbing stories, beautifully filmed. Another champion musher, the sprint racing legend George Attla, is the subject of a new PBS documentary, and one of the greatest dog stories of all time is brought to life by a great film legend, Harrison Ford. Pass the popcorn! Continue reading →