Balto the Wonder Dog Statue, New York, NY

 Balto the Wonder Dog Statue, New York, NY

Balto the sled dog nobly stands on a rock outcropping in Central Park for 85 years. The statue stands near East Drive and 67th Street.  Balto, a lead sled dog, who in 1925 became a hero when he and other sled dog teams traveled 674 miles to Nome, Alaska in a blizzard to deliver medicine for a diphtheria outbreak.

The statue was created by a Brooklyn born sculptor Frederick George Richard Roth, in honor of  Balto’s heroic effort, was commissioned to create a lasting tribute to Balto. The statue has been in Central Park for over 85 years. The statue is a favorite in the park and daily, thousands climb on Balto’s back to be photographed or honor the famous dog. The statues plaque reads “Endurance, Fidelity, and Intelligence. Roth also created two other statues in Central Park- the Tales of Mother Goose and Dancing Goat and Dancing Bear. The statue was unveiled 1925 and Balto himself was there for the honors.