The Iditarod Headquarters, in Wasilla, Alaska, is like a small museum. There are videos that you can watch, gifts you can buy, and you can learn all about the Iditarod history.
The word Iditarod comes from an Ingalik and Holikachuk Indian name for the Iditarod River and means a "distant place". It has also been reported to mean "clear water".
The Iditarod trail is a National Historic Trail that began as a supply route to mining camps in the Alaska Interior. In 1925, the trail became famous when diphtheria serum was taken from Nenana to Nome by dogsled.
Now, people use snowmachines and airplanes instead of dogsleds. Dorothy G. Page, an Alaskan historian, wanted to make sure that people didn't forget how valuable the dogs were. So, she and Joe Redingon Sr. started the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in l967. It was only 27 miles long then. In l973, they started a new tradition and the race went the full distance, 1,049 miles.
The race starts in downtown Anchorage in the first week of March. There is an averaage of 57 mushers. There have been mushers from 15 different countries. The youngest musher was 18 and the oldest 86. Both men and women can race.
At the Iditarod Headquarters, Togo, Seppala's lead dog, (not artificial), and Andy, Rick Swenson's dog (not artificial) are both stuffed and available to see in the museum. That was my favorite part.