Field Training in Nome, Part 1 — Visit to the Carrie McLean Memorial Museum

The Leg 2 group-including eight Japanese students of the ArCS III Open Training Program, two students from the University of Hawaiʻi and one student from Hokkaido University—departed Haneda on July 6 and arrived in Nome on July 7 (Alaska time) via Honolulu and Anchorage. On the morning of July 8, after welcoming the arrival of the Oshoro-Maru at the Port of Nome, the group visited the Carrie McLain Memorial Museum.

At the museum, we learned about the history of Nome through exhibits on the history and culture of Indigenous communities, including the Iñupiat and Yupik; the Gold Rush and the subsequent development of the town; and the Great Race of Mercy, during which life-saving serum was transported to Nome over a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers by a relay of dog sled teams during the devastating diphtheria epidemic of 1925. By learning about the history of Nome, the port of call on our Arctic voyage, we also gained valuable insights into the social issues that continue to shape communities across the Arctic region.

During our visit, Ms. Cheryl Thompson, the museum’s director, kindly provided us with a guided tour of the exhibits and thoughtfully answered the students’ many questions. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for her warm hospitality and generous support.