Cal Vornberger
Balto Statue
Balto stands ready to accept hugs and offer rides to his admiring fans.
Balto the sled dog hero nobly stands on a rock outcropping, just north of the Tisch Children's Zoo. His statue is a one of the most popular in the park and is perfect for photo ops for kids or with your own pet dog.
In 1925 Nome, Alaska was stricken with a horrific diphtheria outbreak. Not enough antitoxin was available to treat all the sick until teams of mushers and sled dogs battled a blinding blizzard and traveled 674 miles to deliver the medicine.
Balto, a husky, was one of the heroic lead dogs.
In recognition of such bravery, famed Brooklyn-born sculptor Frederick George Richard Roth was commissioned to create a lasting tribute. Roth, whose other work at the park includes Tales of Mother Goose and Dancing Goat and Dancing Bear, unveiled the statue on December 15, 1925. The most important among the honored guests was the real Balto himself.
Over the past nine decades, Balto’s statue has been a big favorite - as evidenced by the deep burnishing of his ears and back from the many children who frequently climb up on him.
Note the stirring words on the statue’s plaque: "Endurance · Fidelity · Intelligence". Equally good words for today's heroes and heroines too!