Updated Feb. 2, 2024 at 12:45 p.m.
On this day in 1925, amid an encroaching epidemic of diphtheria, a team of 20 mushers and about 150 sled dogs made the 674-mile trek across Alaska to deliver an antitoxin to the small town of Nome.
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What was the Serum Run to Nome?
The Serum Run to Nome, also known as the "Great Race of Mercy," was a dog sled relay that transported life-saving diphtheria serum to the isolated Alaskan town of Nome in 1925.
Why was the serum needed in Nome?
A diphtheria outbreak had occurred in Nome, and the town had run out of the serum needed to treat the disease. It was organized by the governor of Alaska, Scott Bone, and carried out by the Alaska Territorial Guard and local mushers. The relay covered approximately 674 miles from Nenana to Nome.
Did the Serum Run succeed in delivering the serum to Nome?
The serum was successfully delivered to Nome on February 2, 1925, saving the lives of many residents. The event received widespread media coverage and brought attention to the challenges of living in remote areas. The story inspired many references in popular culture and literature, including the 1995 animated film Balto that loosely based on the events of the final leg of the serum run.