CLEVELAND, Ohio – One of Cleveland’s most famous residents is going home.
But just for a few months.
Balto, the world’s most famous sled dog and Cleveland’s most famous canine hero, is heading to Alaska on March 5. The taxidermied dog, who died in 1933, will be joining an exhibit titled “Polar Bear Garden,” exploring the relationship between Alaska and Russia, at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
He has been a resident at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for decades.
But don’t worry. The visit is just temporary, says Amber Anderson, CMNH registrar.
“We expect Balto back on display at the museum in early July,
says Anderson.
She will accompany Balto on his journey to Anchorage, even flying on the cargo plan with Balto in his specially built crate that will protect him from pests and regulate the temperature and humidity. .
“He’s one of out most popular attractions,” says Anderson, “It’s very important we take good care of him.”
The Anchorage museum is the same one that lobbied to have Balto returned to Alaska for good in the 1990s. The hero dog previously paid a visit to the museum in 1998. Anderson assures Clevelanders this visit is temporary.
Balto emerged as an international hero 92 years ago this month, as the lead dog on the brutal final leg of a sled expedition through a winter blizzard to deliver lifesaving serum to the diphtheria-stricken town of Nome, Alaska. The run concluded after five-and-a-half days on Feb. 2, 1925, from 674 miles away in Nenana.
But like many celebrities, Balto fell on hard times after his heroic run – though in his case through no fault of his own, but that of greedy, cruel humans.
He and his fellow sled dogs were sold to Hollywood producer, Sol Lesser, who re-created their heroism on Mount Rainier for a movie. Lesser soon tired of the dogs and sold their contract to a vaudeville troupe. The dogs were put on the road. But their musher, Gunnar Kaasen, eventually tired of being shackled to Balto, and the dogs were sold to a dime-a-peek circus/freak show. The world’s most heroic dog ended up chained to a sled in a small cage in a dingy Los Angeles circus.
But like all good celebrity stories, this one has another ascent. Fortunately for Balto, a Clevelander came to see him in 1927 – and changed his life once again.
“Cleveland businessman named George Kimble saw the circus and was outraged!” Harvey Webster, director of wildlife resources at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History told The Plain Dealer. “He felt this dog saved children and a city and deserved a lot better than this. He negotiated with the circus to buy the dogs.”
But Kimble didn’t have enough ready money to do this on his own, nor did he have a place to house the dogs. So he turned to his fellow Clevelanders.
“He reached back to the city and the newspapers, especially The Plain Dealer, and the kennel clubs, and in short order they had raised more than $2,000 to pay the purchase price and transport,” said Webster.
“Huskies bark greeting to city for generosity” read The Plain Dealer on March 17, 1927, when the money was raised in 10 days.
The heroic Alaskan dog ended up 3,500 miles from home, in a city that welcomed him with open arms and pocketbooks. Thanks to Kimble and the campaign, Balto was able to live out his final days at the Brookside Zoo, now the Cleveland Zoo. They were welcomed into the city like heroes with a grand parade on March 19, 1927. Balto became one of the most famous residents to ever call Cleveland home, until he passed away in 1933.
He later found a resting place at the Natural History Museum, where a permanent exhibit honors the great efforts of the sled dogs who saved Alaska from the diphtheria epidemic.
The museum is sending Balto off on his new journey with a party. An “Ikidarod” event will be held March 4, the day the Iditarod begins in Alaska — and one day before Balto begins his next adventure. See https://www.cmnh.org/calendar/sdc-ikidarod for more information.
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