Jim Stimpfle and the Melting of the “Ice Curtain”

Anchorage Daily News clipping featuring Jim Stimpfle and his work to open the border between the Soviet Union and the United States. Courtesy of Susan Steinacher.

Jim Stimpfle, a realtor in Nome, Alaska is an unlikely hero in the story of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1986, Jim learned that before the border closed between the US and the USSR, Native peoples used to travel across the Bering Strait regularly. They would trade and visit with friends and family on the other side. These stories of connection sparked Jim’s curiosity about the neighbors across the strait.

Jim was interested in making contact, but he didn't know how. Inspiration struck him while he was dropping off his garbage at the city dump. He noticed that the wind was steadily blowing toward Russia, so he decided to try sending balloons across the strait to make contact. In one attempt, he filled a helium weather balloon with letters of goodwill written in Russian, Siberian Yupik, Inupiaq, and English, along with some items of goodwill like sugar and tobacco. He launched the balloon and watched it float toward Russia, but it soon began to fall and landed in the water. Jim's friend, Tim Gologergen, picked it up from his boat and was very excited to show Jim the balloon, which he thought had come from Russia.

While the balloons failed, Jim was not deterred. He continued to advocate for contact and travel across the border. An opportunity presented itself in August of 1987, when the Surveyor, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research ship came to Nome before heading to Provideniya, Russia. Jim collected letters and items of goodwill to send over with the Surveyor. When the ship returned, it had with it items sent by the Russians. These included a videotape showing Provideniya and Native dance groups as well as a letter from the mayor which read, in part, "We share the same sky and it's no place for bombs." Jim shared these items of goodwill with government officials, such as the governor of Alaska.

Jim Stimpfle speaking at a gathering in Provideniya in 1988, after arriving on the Friendship Flight. Courtesy of Susan Steinacher.

Jim was not alone in his efforts to open the border between the United States and the Soviet Union. A swimmer, Lynne Cox, lent her talents to the effort and swam from Little Diomede to Big Diomede. She was accompanied by almost the entire village of Little Diomede in boats, with many people hoping to be able to land on Big Diomede with her and reconnect with family members. Unfortunately, only a couple of boats were allowed to follow Lynne onto the island, but some were still able to find relatives. (You can read more about Lynne Cox in this article.)

After this event, which was filmed by Sports Illustrated and followed by the press, Jim and others used the momentum to start a letter-writing campaign, advocating for a reopening of the border. Soon, Alaska Airlines agreed to a flight of friendship to Provideniya and in June of 1988, Jim, alongside dignitaries, press, and Alaska Natives, boarded the Friendship Flight and flew directly from Alaska to Russia for the first time in over forty years. This was a momentous opportunity for reconnection, not only of political entities that had considered each other enemies, but of families and friends who had been separated from each other for far too long. The grassroots advocacy of those like Jim Stimpfle, made this reconnection possible and opened the door for international collaboration in the region.

Learn more about the period of reconnection brought on by the Friendship Flight and other collaborative events in the Shared Beringian Heritage Program's online exhibit.

Acknowledgements
Quotes and images provided by Susan Steinacher
Authored by Meg Withers, 2021-2022 Shared Beringian Heritage Program Scientists in Parks Intern