Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land--From Russian Fur Traders to the Gold Rush, Extraordinary Railroads, World War II, the Oil Boom, and the Fight Over ANWR

The history of Alaska is filled with stories of new land and new riches -- and ever present are new people with competing views over how these resources should be used: Russians exploiting a fur empire; explorers checking rival advances; prospectors stampeding to the clarion call of "Gold!"; soldiers battling out a decisive chapter in world war; oil wildcatters looking for a different kind of mineral wealth; and always at the core of these disputes is the question of how the land is to be used and by whom. Major themes include Alaska Natives, exploration and mountaineering, mining rushes, railroads and aviation, military operations, and the conflict pitting conservation against development, with a spotlight on the current debate over oil drilling in ANWR. Some want Alaska to remain static, others are in the vanguard of change. Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land shows that there are no easy answers on either side and that Alaska will always be crossing the next frontier. The History Of Alaska Is Filled With Stories Of New Land And New Riches -- And Ever Present Are New People With Competing Views Over How These Resource Should Be Used. Russians Exploiting A Fur Empire; Explorers Checking Rival Advances; Prospectors Stampeding To The Clarion Call Of Gold!; Soldiers Battling Out A Decisive Chapter In World War; Oil Wildcatters Looking For A Different Kind Of Mineral Wealth; And Always At The Core Of These Disputes Is The Question Of How The Land Is To Be Used And By Whom. Alaska: A Sense Of Scale -- Crossing The Next Frontier -- Land Before Time (prehistory-1728) -- Lifting The Veil: An Empire Up For Grabs (1728-1865) -- Seward's Folly: Two Cents An Acre Becomes A Heck Of A Deal (1865-1897) -- Go North: The Rush Is On (1897-1915) -- Interlude: The Calm Between The Storms (1915-1941) -- The Forgotten Campaign: World War Ii In Alaska (1941-1945) -- Postwar Rumblings: Statehood And Earthquake (1945-1964) -- North Again: This Time The Gold Is Black (1964-1980) -- Whose Land? Competing Claims (1980-2001) -- Alaska: A Sense Of Scale. Walter R. Borneman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [561]-572) And Index. The history of Alaska is filled with stories of new land and new riches -- and ever present are new people with competing views over how these resources should be used: Russians exploiting a fur empire; explorers checking rival advances; prospectors stampeding to the clarion call of "Gold!"; soldiers battling out a decisive chapter in world war; oil wildcatters looking for a different kind of mineral wealth; and always at the core of these disputes is the question of how the land is to be used and by whom. Major themes include Alaska Natives, exploration and mountaineering, mining rushes, railroads and aviation, military operations, and the conflict pitting conservation against development, with a spotlight on the current debate over oil drilling in ANWR. Some want Alaska to remain static, others are in the vanguard of change. __Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land__ shows that there are no easy answers on either side and that Alaska will always be crossing the next frontier. The history of Alaska is filled with stories of new land and new riches -- and ever present are new people with competing views over how the valuable resources should be used: Russians exploiting a fur empire; explorers checking rival advances; prospectors stampeding to the clarion call of "Gold!"; soldiers battling out a decisive chapter in world war; oil wildcatters looking for a different kind of mineral wealth; and always at the core of these disputes is the question of how the land is to be used and by whom.While some want Alaska to remain static, others are in the vanguard of change. Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land shows that there are no easy answers on either side and that Alaska will always be crossing the next frontier. A comprehensive history of Alaska provides coverage of such topics as the area's native culture, its exploration and mountaineering, the mining rushes, its railroads and aviation, its military operations, the conservation versus development conflict, and the current ANWR oil drilling debate. When I would mention to chose only generally knowledgeable with Alaska and its literature that I was writing a history of that bold land, all too often the response would be, "Oh, you mean like James Michener"