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/ Archived Race Coverage / A Tour of Iditarod Headquarters

A Tour of Iditarod Headquarters

Wasilla, Alaska, is home to the Iditarod Trail Committee

by June Price

03/25/2005

In 1976, the Iditarod Trail Committee took up residence in a rear section of the Wasilla Museum and Visitor’s Center. It was about a block up the street from Teeland’s Country Store, now the Bistro, and next door to the then City Hall and Library. Several full time staff members were hired. This was significant because until then, all the work had been handled by volunteers. Raine Hall was the first staff member and came aboard with the title of office manager. Prior to this, the homes of Joe Redington Sr. and Dick Mackey were what might be deemed the Iditarod’s home offices, as well as Von and Dorothy Page’s log cabin on the shores of Lake Wasilla.

Wasilla itself was founded in 1917. No one knows for sure how the name came about. Some theorize that it came from Chief Wasilla, whose name meant "breath of air." Others lean toward it coming from the Russian name the Chief took, the name Vasili, a corruption of the Russian name "William." Whatever the case, Wasilla quickly grew. Located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, it’s something of a hub, serving as a sort of gateway to Denali National Park to the north and Anchorage to the south.

Wasilla is also home to "HQ," as some refer to Iditarod Headquarters. Groundbreaking for the structure took place on October 8, 1985. Located on nearly ten acres on a main arterial road and close to central Wasilla, it’s a prime destination for tour groups. In fact, it’s rare that you’ll visit and not see at least one tour bus parking in the parking lot.

An impressive log structure, Iditarod Headquarters houses not only the offices of the organization but an impressive array of race related memorabilia. Since many fans of the race, ironically, never make it to the site to visit at race time, I thought it appropriate to take a look at the building and the intriguing array of items housed within. Click on the links below to see what you’ve been missing if you’re one of those who has never made it out to Wasilla to visit Iditarod Headquarters.

Click on images for a larger picture:

Just as the race ends in Nome with mushers passing under the Burled Arch, your trip to Iditarod Headquarters, Wasilla, begins as you pass beneath the huge arch that marks their driveway. You can just see the welcoming sign just below the center of the photo and to its right stands a statue honoring the contributions of Joe Redington, Sr., to the race.
Iditarod Headquarters makes its home in a log cabin just miles from downtown Wasilla. The Welcoming sign, left, is a “frequent photo site,” so to speak, as tourists and fans pose for photos in front of it. Alone the top of the sign are flags representing the many nations from which mushers running this race originated.
Joe Redington Sr. is considered the “Father of the Iditarod.” This wonderfully detailed statue of Redington and his leader Feets stands at the end of the walkway leading into the building. The wreath at the foot of the statue was simply a hold over from the Christmas holiday and had been removed for photos by other fans but the wreath of flowers about Feets’ head have become a constant. One the back of the nicely detailed parka worn here by Joe, you’ll see an equally detailed reproduction of the Official Finishers’ Patch, one only those who’ve won the race are entitled to wear.
Inside, you’ll be met with a host of impressions, making it difficult to know which way to turn next. One direction will lead you into the store, itself a huge lure for fans, the other into the combination meeting room/museum. Look up as you head left toward the museum and you’ll see photos of the champions of the race. A young Rick Swenson smiles down here from the wall.
Nearby, the stuffed body of Swenson’s esteemed leader Andy. Andy stands in a glass case and is shown in harness, ready to head out for another run.
Quick, though, before you go into the museum, look left. You’ll see not just an old sled but several examples of old style harnesses hanging on the walls. This one once belonged to Leonhard Seppala and is displayed courtesy of the Earl Norris Family. Natalie Norris continues to be active in the mushing community despite the death of her husband Earl and was responsible for recovering the stuffed carcass of Fritz, a Seppala leader that he valued almost as much as Togo. Fritz now resides in the museum in Nome.
Although similar modern day items have been much streamlined since these were the norm, these are all items you might find in a mushers’ sled in one form or the other. The yellow notebook is the vet book you’ve heard referred to so often, one that mushers use to record information on the dogs’ performance, behaviors and condition all the way up the trail. By sheer chance, I noted that almost the first thing out of Iditarod 2005 Champion Robert Sorlie’s bag to be handed over to race officials under the Burled Arch in Nome was his yellow vet book.
Harnesses have taken on many styles over the years.
Dick Wilmarth, the first Iditarod Champion
Libby Riddles and Susan Butcher, proud woman champions, are shown along one wall.
In 1999, Andrea Aufder-Heyde, known as Finney to friends, became the first Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. It’s a program that has grown in popularity and expanded over the years, now encompassing two workshops per year. Teachers from all over have applied to be TOTT, Teacher on the Trail. The teacher chosen prepares a series of lessons meant to show how the Iditarod can be incorporated into lesson plans to support curriculum goals and enhance learning. The race is used to support the curriculum already in place, not supplant it. These lessons are showcased on the Iditarod web site and available to all teachers. Once the race begins, the selected teacher heads out on the trail with their own pilot and sends back reports on what they’ve seen for all to read, the focus being on what they think might be useful to the multitude of teachers using the reports.
Of course, this is a sled dog race. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find adorable little husky items to buy. These are just a sampling.
This was taken from the offices above the sales floor. The loft provides both office and storage space. For those visiting, it’s above the area where the shirts and jackets are sold.
Dorothy Page is known as the “Mother of the Iditarod.” It was her musing, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could put on a sled dog race?” so to speak, that spurred Joe Redington Sr.’s imagination and resulted in what is today’s Iditarod. This award sits in a glass case with many others inside the museum.
Just a few of the items displayed in the museum.
This wonderful display takes up much of one wall in the museum. The plaque below it reads: “Tribute to all dog teams and their drivers; Entitled: The Last Great Race.” Each dogs portrayed has a slightly different expression, giving it a very lifelike look.
Along the wood base of the display are smaller plaques. They list the race champions and their year of victory. Another plaque with the name of Robert Sorlie will soon be joining them.
One of the interesting things to do is poke along reading all the identifiers or descriptions of what you’re seeing. This one is of one of the original mile markers, Mile 54, along the Old Iditarod Trail. If you look closely, you can still see the number 54 on the wooden marker.
The Iditarod, of course, pays tribute to the brave mushers and their dogs that risked their lives to carry the diphtheria serum to Nome to save the lives of its children. Some of the newspapers that traced that epic journey are shown here.
This is Togo, fabled leader of Leonhard Seppala. His stuffed remains stand in the museum in Wasilla.
And here’s Togo’s human, Leonhard Seppala. Seppala would go on to help found the Siberian Husky as a recognized breed and get it accepted by the American Kennel Club.
Stepping outside just a moment, take a moment to look to your right. The cabin you see now houses offices and provides storage but is a replica of the Rohn Cabin Checkpoint. It was donated to the Iditarod Trail Committee and stands near where dog cart rides are provided to visitors in the summer.
A replica of a cache stands near the cabin. The purpose of the height is to raise the storage unit off the ground far enough to make it impossible for bears and other wildlife to rob your food supplies. A ladder would be available to climb up to the cache. Imagine carrying hundreds of pounds of supplies up and down a ladder!
This is the cart that Raymie Redington, son of Joe Sr., uses for cart rides. Raymie told me that Joe Sr. actually built it, at least in its original version.
Finally, what more appropriate item to end our quick tour with than the actual Red Lantern Award. The plaques attached hold the names of those who’ve won this aware, one that symbolizes both persistence and endurance.

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