Nome, Alaska, is rich in cultural tradition and gold rush history. Located on the Seward Peninsula along the Bering Sea, Nome and the surrounding area has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Inupiat Eskimo people. The area began to draw gold prospectors in the 19th century. When the “Three Swedes” found gold in the the Anvil River, the race was on, and Nome’s population surged with gold panners hoping to make it rich. At one point Nome, which was incorporated in 1901, had the largest population in Alaska. Today, gold and other mineral extraction remains important to the local economy.

Nome’s other claim to fame is serving as the finish line of the famous 1000-mile-plus long Iditarod dogsled race that starts in Anchorage every March. The race commemorates the 1925 dog sled run to bring medicine to Nome during a diphtheria outbreak when airplanes could not reach the town due to bad weather.

Starkly beautiful, Nome and the surrounding area teems with wildlife, including birds and wild herds of musk ox. Kayaking, fly fishing, and hiking are popular outdoor summer sports.

Ship Location

The ship docks at the Port of Nome.

Getting Around

 The town is about a half-hour walk from the port.

Attractions

The main attraction is the great outdoors--hiking, fly fishing, birdwatching, and sightseeing. Learn about the Inupiat culture and the gold rush history at the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum in the Richard Foster building in town. In the same building is the Katirvik Cultural Center, which serves as a gathering place to learn about local cultures. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, a National Park Service unit, has a visitor center in Nome.