Nome Serum Run – More Information

This story is of special interest to me because I follow the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and am a big fan of sled dogs and Alaska.

Many people associate this story with Ed Kassan and one of his lead dogs, Balto; but I chose to focus on Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog, Togo, since they are the true heroes of the race to save lives.  Here’s a little more about the items included in the letter:

I included two trading cards, since both Sep and Togo deserved their own cards.

The newspaper article and accompanying map are from the Los Angeles Daily News from February 3, 2025. These are exact copies, but rearranged and enlarged to fit on the page.

The telegram is an exact copy of the original telegram.

The Ely Lilly antitoxin label is one from the time period, but it is not known if this is the same brand.

The package label is an exact copy of the original label on the package carried to Nome.

For more info about the Nome Serum Run, see the following:

Book: The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic  by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury gives a detailed account 

Book: Togo by Robert J. Blake, a picture book for children

Movie Togo – Although not entirely accurate, this is one of the best movies about the serum run. 

Discovery Channel + Icebound: The Greatest Dog Story Ever Told – Free documentary on YouTube:

The famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race follows almost the same trail as the serum run.  It starts the first weekend in March and goes for about two weeks.  It’s fun to follow the race online.