History

History Book of Nome, Alaska and Surrounding Areas	End of the Iditarod Trail

Recent History

History Book: During the winters of 1996 and 1997, someone got a grant to gather oral stories about historical times and print them. Potlucks were held, and the older people of all backgrounds took turns telling their stories about living in Nome and other parts of Alaska. Their stories were translated if necessary, recorded, and written just like the speaker spoke. Then they were printed into books and sold. Stories were told about the history of many things: the big fire that spread through Nome, the origin of the famous dog sled race, aviation, illness, food preservation, ship travel before planes, gold, Russia, reindeer, discrimination, education, well-known visitors, the telephone, etc.

Return of the Caribou: In 1996, for the first time in over 150 years, the caribou returned to the Bering Straits Region. Some of the domestic reindeer are getting mixed up with the caribou. This confuses the hunters. Public service announcements said things like, "The reindeer herders like their reindeer. Please don't shoot the reindeer. Here's how to tell the difference." The local joke is, "If it's dead, it's caribou."

Not So Recent History

Learn about Nome's history through the following links:
Gold rush, fires, WWII, Russia, air travel, naming of Nome
Education
Reindeer history

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