About Us

The Iditarod National Historic Trail, Inc. dba Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization chartered to advance the knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment of the historic Iditarod Trail.

The Iditarod National Historic Trail marker in summer fireweed

Staff and Board
Executive Director Betsi Oliver, the officers and the board by seat.
Annual Reports and Newsletters
The FY2024 and FY2025 annual reports, and The Tripod.
The Tripod
Every issue of the member newsletter, by year and topic.
Partners
The land managers, trail groups and organizations the Alliance works with.
Media Package
The Alliance in brief, trail facts, the seal and photographs.
Contact Us
Email, mail and social media.

The Trail and the Alliance

While the Iditarod Trail is well known nationally and internationally due to the contemporary sled dog race, many Alaskans and most Americans are unaware of the basic history of the Trail. While parts of the Trail go back thousands of years to trade routes used by Alaska’s native people, today’s Iditarod Trail began with an Alaska Road Commission scouting expedition in mid-winter 1908. With the strike of gold in Iditarod, the ARC blazed the trail the winter of 1910, giving the Iditarod and Innoko mining districts overland access to the deep water port of Seward, and eventually, the Alaska Railroad.

Flashing to the end of the 20th century, Congress passed the National Trails System Act in 1968 establishing a framework for a nationwide system of national trails supported by public-private partnerships of users, managers, and others with an interest in trails. The Iditarod National Historic Trail was designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 1978 to commemorate the last great American gold rush.

The Alliance, along with its partners, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Iditarod Trail from 2008 to 2012. Between 1910 and 1912 over 10,000 gold seekers came to Alaska’s “Inland Empire”. While not everyone made it rich, over $30 million of gold was taken out of Iditarod along the Iditarod Trail.

A boomtown of frame buildings and canvas tents on flat ground, July 1910. — Iditarod, Alaska, July 21st, 1910

Dog teams and loaded sleds lined up in front of log buildings at Knik in winter — Three-quarters of a million dollars in gold from Iditarod, arriving at Knik on January 12, 1912

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement of the Iditarod National Historic Trail, Inc. dba Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance.

If you believe discrimination has occurred as a participant in an IHTA program under the Equal Employment Opportunity Laws and you wish to file a complaint: Contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 1-800-669-4000 (toll free), or 1-800-669-6820 (toll-free TTY number for individuals with hearing impairments). Information is also available at www.eeoc.gov In the State of Alaska contact the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights 907 274-4692 or 800 478-3177. Website: humanrights.alaska.gov Address: 800 A Street, Suite 204, Anchorage, AK 99501-3669
The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance operates an equal opportunity program and does not discriminate in its program participation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, pregnancy, parenthood, or veteran status.
It is the policy of the IHTA to prohibit retaliation against a participant who pursues a complaint of discrimination against IHTA or otherwise engages in any protected EEO activity.
Individuals with limited English proficiency who are seeking access to the programs and services of the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance are encouraged to contact the organization. If an individual feels they were not allowed to participate in a program because of limited English proficiency please contact us. Requests can be sent to: President, Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance 3705 Arctic Blvd #272 Anchorage, AK 99503-5774 Email: IditarodHTA@gmail.com