Unalaska's Final Resting Place
Posted by: 
kwashnak
N 32° 30.755 W 092° 07.295
15S E 582507 N 3597593
Final resting place of Unalaska, lead sled dog for Admiral Byrd's expedition to Antarctica in 1929. The memorial is located at the Georgia Tucker Elementary School on Stubbs Avenue in Monroe.
Waymark Code: WM9AZ7
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 07/24/2010
Views: 8
In 1929 Admiral Richard Byrd made an expedition to Antarctica where he led an expedition that explored areas of the continent, and culminated with the first successful reaching of the South Pole by airplane. In 1930-31, the expedition traveled across America where they were feted as heroes. In January 1931 the tour stopped in Monroe, Louisiana. While there, Unalaska, the lead dog for the dog team on the expedition was struck by an automobile and killed. He was buried on the grounds of the nearby American Legion, however his burial and memorial was resented by the World War Veterans, and the monument erected to the famous dog disappeared the night after it was unveiled. Sensing the mood of the veterans, a committee of students from the Georgia Tucker Elementary School raised funds for a new memorial and had Unalaska's remains moved to be reburied on the schools' grounds, where the Alaskan Husky became the school's mascot.
Type of Memorial: plaque
Type of Animal: service, work animal
|
Visit Instructions:
Proof of visit is required. The easiest proof is a gps photo of the memorial. GPS photos will always be acceptable proof. Individual waymarks may ask for an alternative type of proof of visit.