BALTO'S TRUE STORY

03/12/09 - Added a new page entitled "Research Notes", which will explain the source materials I have used to date, and my research philosophies (in the face of a little debate, and a specific bit of unwarranted criticism from one person, and a series of sneaky attacks by another), in order to make that matter clear.

01/28/09 - Added a "News" page to the site, so that visitors can be kept abreast of the goings-on related to this site, the serum run, Alaska, etc.

01/23/09 - Changed the background music on the Monuments & Mounts page...just felt the other tune, while a very good one, was a bit too voluminous for the purposes of concentrating on reading through the article.  Also tweaked a few of the pages, and added a link for information on the Mat-Su Visitor Center on page 3 of the article, under the Palmer Balto statue/monument section.

01/19/08 - Added new features about serum run dog Fritz, and about the various monuments and taxidermy mounts which honor the serum run and its participants.  Updated the Acknowledgements page to show additional site music on those features, and to acknowledge other helpful contributors to my research.  Also added a new album to the Photo Gallery (about sculptor Frederick Roth).

01/18/08 - Added a new interesting photo of Balto to the Balto page.

01/15/08 - Picture of Leonhard Seppala and Togo, taken by Ralph Morril, taken down pending a granting of usage license, by the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University.

12/23/08 - Added a new shoutbox to the site (which is also on the forums, and synched between both in real time) for live chat!  Viewable by guests, but anyone wishing to post must register.

12/18/08 - Added new information to the home page ("Updates, Updates, Updates!"), and a new site award from guest D. Noyce of the Southern Arizona Siberian Husky Association.  Thanks, folks! 

07/05/08 - Added two new books to the Acknowledgements page (The Race To Nome and Nome: City of the Golden Beaches).  Also working on the home page.

04/27/08 - Added a photo of Samuel Johannesen Balto, the man for whom Balto was named, on the Balto page.

04/25/08 - Added the new photo album, and a grand array of photos associated with Nome before, during and after the 1925 Serum Run!  Have a look-see!  You'll not find a more exhaustive array of Nome and serum run photos ANYWHERE ELSE on the internet!

04/13/08 - Changed the home page with some new information.  Also added photos to the Togo page, and changed a caption or two in the photos of the Leonhard Seppala article (and added a photo or two).  Also changed one photo on the Balto page to a clearer version of it (the one of Balto in the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles).  And changed, once again, the title banner.

01/28/08 - Added today's entry for the Serum Run anniversary countdown.

01/27/08 - Corrected a slight historical notation error on p. 4 of the Leonhard Seppala article, concerning the Esther Birdsall Darling poem.  I had earlier misrepresented the heroic event which the poem commemorates as having occurred during the 1917 All-Alaska Sweepstakes Race.  The book Seppala: Alaskan Dog Driver, however, confirms that it occurred during the winter early in 1917, a few months before the race that year.

As a small way of paying proper tribute to the upcoming anniversary of the events of the 1925 Nome Serum Run (which start today), I have posted a countdown on the main page, along with a day-to-day noting of important or key events from each day.  It's terribly inadequate in my view, but it is something at least...

12/14/07 - Added the book Seppala: Alaskan Dog Driver to the Acknowledgements page.  Also added links, for each book (on that page), to where they can be purchased online. 

Amended the first paragraph of the first Serum Run Synopsis page to reflect some updated historical research (the first child to die of diphtheria during the epidemic was not a girl, but a boy).  Further amendments to various sections may be pending as I continue researching.

12/13/07 - Added some feature notes on the home page about the new reprint of the Elizabeth Ricker book Seppala: Alaskan Dog Driver.

11/05/07 - Added a new banner, by forum member "Mayahuskee".

10/18/07 - Added a new link to the Links of Interest page, under the "Balto (the cartoon movies)" section.  Check it out!

10/11/07 - Added new information on the home page about the forum!

09/12/07 - Added a new link to the Links of Interest page, under the "1925 Nome Serum Run - The Real Story" section.  Check it out!

09/11/07 - Changed the site banner to another wonderful one done by a friend of mine from the United Kingdom, who goes by the online moniker "Whitewolf(UK)".  The banner will switch back and forth on a monthly basis, starting on the first day of every month.  For now, there are two images (the one which has been up, done by another friend of mine, from the U.S., who goes by the online moniker "MightyBalto1925").  However, I'm always open to new additions to the banner pool!

08/21/07 - Added a new URL to the Links of Interest page, that of a great Italian fan site for the Balto cartoons, which a friend of mine designed and is webmaster of.  It's got a great section on the true story!  And, if you can read Italian, you'll enjoy it immensely.  In any case, the site is very nicely laid out and navigable, and worth a look!

08/20/07 - Added a page for display of awards individual members of the site's forum have freely given for this site!  Thanks, guys!  

08/13/07 - Added some exciting new material to the Togo page...all about Togo's fascinating youth!

08/12/07 - Edited the Togo, Balto, and Leonhard Seppala pages for errors and some grammatical inconsistencies.  Corrected how a link was posted on the Balto page.  Edited links in various locations so that they all open up as "new windows" (except this page, and progressive page links in individual sections of this website).

08/09/07 - Added a picture and description to the bottom of the Togo page, and also changed the order of the updates, to read from bottom to top instead of top to bottom (thus making the most recent updates appear at the top of the page, right where you can see them without having to scroll down)!  

08/08/07 - Added two new pages - capsule histories for Togo and for Balto...the two most famous sled dog leaders of the 1925 Nome Serum Run!

08/02/07 - Added a new off-site link on the Links of Interest page, under the "Balto (the cartoon movies)" section (for the Yahoo member group "The Balto League").

07/28/07 - Restored the music to the active site pages, and beginning to work on some new pages, which should be up by this coming week!

06/25/07 - Added a counter to the home page, and beginning to announce and promote the site!  MORE PAGES are coming to this site!  Please check back for updates from time to time!

06/24/07 - Finished the section on Leonhard Seppala, and also the links page.  Added pages for acknowledgements and a few opinions.  Planning a section each for Togo and Balto, and the Siberian husky.

06/23/07 - Continued work on the section about Leonhard Seppala, and updated the links page.

06/21/07 - Added an autobiographical page, and tweaked some of the other pages.  Still more work to be done!  Stay tuned!

06/20/07 - Finished the Serum Run Synopsis, which is now three pages.  Beginning work on the Leonhard Seppala, Serum Run Teams, and Links of Interest pages.  I EXPECT to have the site finished, and ready for full viewing, by Sunday night, 06/24.  Keeping my fingers crossed - keep watching!  And thanks!