98 years ago, a Siberian husky named Balto was part of the sled-dog team relay that braved over 600 miles of treacherous blizzard conditions to deliver medicine to children in Alaska. The journey ultimately prevented the escalation of a diphtheria outbreak. To recognize the heroism of these dogs, a statue of Balto was unveiled in Central Park #OnThisDay in 1925, and Balto even attended the unveiling. Created by sculptor Frederick Roth, Balto is one of the most beloved monuments in the Park today

On this day in 1925, the Balto statue in Central Park was dedicated, with Balto himself in attendance! Just a few months earlier, the nation had been captivated by the story of a team of sled dogs racing against the clock to bring lifesaving medicine to Nome, Alaska during a diphtheria outbreak. Balto is just one of the heroic pups who stepped up (you may have heard the story of Togo, another beloved sled dog with his own statue on the Lower East Side), and today this statue inspires countless v

It was snowing #OTD in 1925 in Nome, Alaska when Balto became a hero, just as it was snowing on his statue in Central Park today! Balto led a team of sled dogs along the Iditarod Trail to deliver a life-saving antitoxin to a epidemic-stricken town saving hundreds of children. | New York City Department of Parks & Recreation