Random True Story Behind 'Balto' Is Even More Intense Than Animated Film (14 items)

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  (#13) People In Alaska Want To Display Balto At A Local Iditarod Museum

  In the '90s, a group of children in Alaska wanted their beloved hero to come home. They put together a campaign attempting to persuade the Cleveland Natural History Museum to give them Balto to display at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Museum located in Wasilla, AK.

  The people of Cleveland refused, reasoning Balto spent half his life living in their city.
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  (#3) Despite Being Inexperienced, Balto Took Lead Of The Second-To-Last Team

  Scheduled to be the second-to-last team to transport the serum, Kaasen, Balto, and the team's other 12 dogs found themselves in a powerful snowstorm shortly into their journey. The serum was almost lost after an 80 mph gust of wind flipped the sled and the package tumbled into a snowbank.

  Balto had never led a team before and had to rely on scent rather than sight because of the heavy snow storms. After an issue with the planned final team, Kaasen's decided to finish the relay himself. In February 1925, Balto, Kaasen, and the rest of the group reached Nome after traveling 53 miles.

  Although four dogs died during the operation, the doctor lifted the quarantine three weeks later thanks to the speedy serum delivery.
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  (#10) Sled Dogs Like Balto Inspired The Famous Iditarod Race

  Balto and the other sled dogs of his day traveled what came to be known as the Iditarod trail, which runs about 1,150 miles from Anchorage, AK, to Nome. Once used by settlers, the path also allowed for the delivery of mail and other supplies. 

  By the 1960s, dog sleds had become less popular than snowmobiles, also known as "iron dogs."

  In 1967, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Alaska becoming a US territory, people began considering a way to preserve this culture. They proposed a dog sled race that traveled the Iditarod Trail, reconstructing the route run by Balto. The race has been held annually since 1973.
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  (#8) A Businessman Raised Money To Save Balto From The Sideshow

  In 1927, a businessperson named George Kimble discovered Balto in the sideshow. The situation he found the dogs in appalled Kimble, who asked the sideshow owner if he could purchase Balto and his team. The owner agreed to sell the dogs for $2,000. 

  Kimble returned to Cleveland and began a campaign to raise money with the help of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. Children, local shops, waitresses, and factory workers all helped by donating what they could. The Western Reserve Kennel Club and the Animal Protective League also supported the cause, along with a local judge.

  Kimble's benefit managed to raise $2,300 in just 10 days, and he rescued Balto and the other dogs. 
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  (#4) A Movie Producer Invited Balto To Hollywood To Star In Films

  The media followed the relay, and Balto quickly became a national hero. But Balto's owner, Leonhard Seppala, felt the admiration was misplaced, considering over 150 other dogs also participated, including his dog Togo, who completed the longest part of the journey.

  Despite this, Seppala allowed Gunnar Kaasen to take Balto and his team to Hollywood where producer Sol Lesser backed a 30-minute film called Balto's Race to Nome which featured the new canine star.
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  (#11) Balto's Statue Still Stands In New York's Central Park

  In December 1925, the city of New York unveiled a statue of Balto in Central Park. Fredrick Roth created the bronze image of Balto with a plaque below that reads:

  Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin 600 miles over treacherous waters, through arctic blizzards, from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the winter of 1925 - Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence.

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