Category Archives: Alaska History

The Alaska Railroad 1902-1923

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Helen Hegener

The Alaska Railroad: 1902-1923 , subtitled Blazing an Iron Trail Across The Last Frontier, shares the compelling story of the construction of the Alaska Railroad and its predecessors, from 1902, when John Ballaine built the Alaska Central Railroad; through 1923, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, Books, News & Information | Tagged A.E.C., AEC, Alaska, Alaska Central Railroad, Alaska Northern Railroad, Alaska Railroad, Alaskan Engineering Commission, Anchorage, ARR, Denali, Fairbanks, Golden Spike, Helen Hegener, Nenana, President Harding, Seward, Tanana Valley Railroad | 3 Comments

Alaskan Adventurer Mary Shields

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Helen Hegener

In 1974, the second year the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was run, Mary Shields became the first woman to finish the race, with the smallest team in the race (only eight dogs) and a part-Labrador lead dog named … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, DVD & Video | Tagged Alaskan Tails of the Trail, Hope Race, Iditarod, Jon Van Zyle, Mary Shields, Pyrola Publishing, Robert Service, Season of the Sled Dog, Sled Dog Tales, The Alaskan Happy Dog Trilogy, The Nature of Things, Will Curtis, Yukon Quest | 1 Comment

Iditarod: The First Ten Years

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Helen Hegener

Please click here to help put a copy of this book in every Alaskan school – even a $5.00 donation will help put more books into our schools! Iditarod: The First Ten Years is a tremendous compilation of history from … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information, Races, Sled Dog History | Tagged Dick Mackey, GoFundMe, Iditarod, Iditarod Air Force, Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Joe Redington, The Last Great Race, The Old Iditarod Gang | Leave a comment

Still Crazy After All These Years

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Helen Hegener

Still Crazy After All These Years by Helen Hegener with Rod Perry Adventure has been a way of life for Rod Perry of Chugiak, Alaska. Now seventy-four, an age when most are slowing way down if not sitting still, Rod … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, DVD & Video, News & Information, Races, Sled Dog History | Tagged Buzz Rohlfing, Fat Albert, Gil Perry, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Men of 73, Rod Perry, Sourdough, Trailbreakers | Leave a comment

Great Trail Dogs

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Helen Hegener

“For years, with great dogs, I toiled and often with them was in great perils. Much of my work was accomplished by their aid. So I believe in dogs, and here in this book I have written of some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History | Tagged Alaska, “Iron Man” Johnson, Baldy, Balto, BLM Alaska, Fritz, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Kolyma, Leonhard Seppala, Mary Joyce, mushing, Northern Light Media, Rembrandt, Scotty Allan, Serum Run, sled dogs, Slim Williams, Togo, Wolf | Leave a comment

Looking for Lizzy

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Helen Hegener

As an author of books on the history of Alaska, I often receive inquiries from people seeking information about long-lost relatives, and I’m always happy to help whenever I can. Family connections are important, and helping someone piece together clues … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, News & Information, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged C.L. Hoyt, Elizabeth Geady, Gulkana, Julie Stricker, Lizzy Geady, Lorne Brown, Sourdough Roadhouse, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail | Leave a comment

“A Mighty Nice Place”

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

“The valley looks great. It looks fine, fine. You got a mighty nice place here.” ~American humorist and commentator Will Rogers, Palmer, Alaska, August, 1935 The newest book from Northern Light Media combines the history of the Matanuska Valley with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, News & Information | Leave a comment

Golden Places

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Golden Places: The History of Alaska-Yukon Mining, With Particular Reference to Alaska’s National Parks, was written in 1990 by William R. Hunt, prepared as a special theme study to assist in the assessment of cultural resources associated with metal mining … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Cassiar, Chisana, Circle City, Dawson, Fairbanks, Fortymile, Golden Places, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Kantishna, Klondike gold rush, Kuskokwim, Nabesna, Nizina, Nome, Northern Light Media, Seward-Nome Trail, William R. Hunt | Leave a comment

Gakona Roadhouse

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Helen Hegener

This article is an excerpt from the book by Helen Hegener, Alaskan Roadhouses, Shelter, Food, and Lodging Along Alaska’s Roads and Trails, published in 2015 by Northern Light Media. Ordering information below. The Gakona roadhouse at milepost 205 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Arne Sundt, Doyle's Ranch, Gakona Roadhouse, Glenn Highway, Helen Hegener, Henra Sundt, James Wickersham, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, roadhouse, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail | Leave a comment

1912 All Alaska Sweepstakes

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Helen Hegener

An old friend, Robert Lutz, sent me the link to an article which appeared in the March 27, 1912 issue of the newspaper, The San Francisco Call, which noted entries for the 1912 All Alaska Sweepstakes race. The article read, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Races, Sled Dog History, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Baldy of Nome, Charles Johnson, Esther Birdsall Darling, Helen Hegener, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Seppala Kennels Advertising Card

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Helen Hegener

I often stumble across interesting websites in my research, and one I’ve returned to a number of times over the years is the Alaskan Heritage Bookshop website, which sells Alaskan books, Alaskan art, vintage Alaskan memorabilia and photographs, and much … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Sled Dog History, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Horse Snowshoes

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The photos and information here are borrowed from the Alaskan Heritage Bookshop website, which sells Alaskan books, Alaskan art, vintage Alaskan memorabilia and photographs, and much more. Based in Juneau, the site bills itself “The Museum of Alaska History Where … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Heritage Bookshop, Helen Hegener, Horse snowshoes, Klondike, Northern Light Media | 1 Comment

Crow Creek Pass, Iditarod Trail

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Crow Creek Pass is a popular summer destination with hikers and backpackers, crossing a scenic pass high in the great Chugach Range of mountains which overlooks Anchorage and separates the Matanuska Valley from Prince William Sound. Crow Creek pass, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Roadhouses, Sled Dog History, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Chugach Mountains, Crow Pass, Eagle River, Eklutna, Fire Lake, Fred Taulman, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, John Muir, Knik, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, Peters Creek, S. Hall Young, Seward, Sled Dog History, sled dogs | 2 Comments

Joe Redington’s Iditarod Booklet

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Helen Hegener

A slim little booklet came to my attention at the Palmer library recently; if memory serves me it was tucked into their collection which cannot be checked out of the library but must remain in the building. Titled Iditarod Trail, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Races, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Joe Redington, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Dog Team Doctor

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1896 Dr. Joseph H. Romig traveled to Bethel, Alaska, and opened the first doctor’s office and hospital west of Sitka, at a time when there were very few non-native people living in remote southwest Alaska. Four decades later a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, Bethel, Dog Team Doctor, dogteam, Eva Greenslit Anderson, Helen Hegener, mushing, Nenana, Northern Light Media, Romig, sled dogs | Leave a comment

The Parks-Archer Colony Barn

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1935 the U.S. Government transported 200 families from the Great Depression-stricken midwest to a valley of unparalleled beauty in Alaska, where they were given the chance to begin new lives as part of a federally-funded social experiment, the Matanuska … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska History, Albert Marquez, Barbara Hecker, barns, Bodenburg Loop Road, Bonita Parks Strong, Dave Rose, Eric Vercammen, Glen Archer, Jim Fox, Joanie Juster, Lynn Sandvik, Matanuska, Matanuska Colony Project, Matanuska Valley, Palmer, Parks-Archer, Pioneer Peak, Ron Day | Leave a comment

John “Iron Man” Johnson

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1910, a Scottish nobleman who lived in Nome, Fox Maule Ramsey, crossing the Bering Strait to Siberia and purchased 70 Siberian racing huskies. In that year’s All Alaska Sweepstakes race, a 408-mile run from Nome to Candle and return, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Races, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Jack London, John "Iron Man" Johnson, Kolyma, mushing, mushing history | 5 Comments

A Look Between the Covers

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The newest book from Northern Light Media, Alaskan Sled Dog Tales, is in the final proofing stage before indexing the book, and I thought a peek between the covers might be fun for readers looking forward to this book. Here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Alaskan Sled Dog Tales

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The history of Alaska was in large part written behind a team of sled dogs. “These trustworthy creatures could be relied upon to do the heavy work, while remaining—as Hegener eloquently reminds us—our most treasured friends.” David Fox, for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Nellie, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Anchorage Press, Book Reviews, David Fox, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | 1 Comment

A.A.”Scotty” Allan

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Helen Hegener

From the Wenatchee World, Wenatchee, Washington, June 29, 1909: “Scotty” Allan, Dog Trainer Winner of All-Alaskan Sweepstakes an old-time resident of Chelan County and well known here The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of Monday night contained an interesting story regarding “Scotty” Allan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Races, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Dubby, Helen Hegener, J. Berger, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, Sled Dog Tales, sled dogs | Leave a comment