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Icebound Empire: Industry and Politics on the Last Frontier 1898 - 1938
Stories of Courage and Grit Behind Alaska’s Fierce Independence
A mysterious vigilante murder in Nebraska, the Alaska Gold Rush, muckraking politics that lead to the suicide of an American hero and the ambitious, wealthy men vying for control of Alaskan business and industry at the turn of the century.
This third and special edition has been released with new, never-before-published content outside the Alaska Historical Society Journals. It reveals a first-hand account of the early development of the Alaska railway system and the story behind the richly funded, entrepreneurial Alaska Syndicate initiative that lead to the famous “Keystone Canyon Shoot-out.”
The discovery of a hand-written letter by George Hazelet to Catherine Wilson, a nomadic chronicler of events in the early Alaska territory and publisher of the historical Copper Tints, gives us an encompassing and refreshing first-hand account of the early railway development in what is still known as the “Last American Frontier.”
This is the true story revealed of three men who were the prime movers behind an ambitious, turn-of-the-twentieth-century plan to develop Alaska—the J. P. Morgan – Guggenheim Alaska Syndicate, builder of the Kennecott Copper Mining Company, as well as the Copper River & Northwestern Railway.
George Cheever Hazelet, Stephen Birch and Captain David Jarvis were true pioneers of this great Alaska Territory and were backed by enormously wealthy men to whom failure was unacceptable. The challenges and setbacks of this gallant trio have been beautifully captured and documented in this third edition by the award-winning Alaska historian and author, the late Elizabeth A. Tower, MD.
A mysterious vigilante murder in Nebraska, the Alaska Gold Rush, muckraking politics that lead to the suicide of an American hero and the ambitious, wealthy men vying for control of Alaskan business and industry at the turn of the century.
This third and special edition has been released with new, never-before-published content outside the Alaska Historical Society Journals. It reveals a first-hand account of the early development of the Alaska railway system and the story behind the richly funded, entrepreneurial Alaska Syndicate initiative that lead to the famous “Keystone Canyon Shoot-out.”
The discovery of a hand-written letter by George Hazelet to Catherine Wilson, a nomadic chronicler of events in the early Alaska territory and publisher of the historical Copper Tints, gives us an encompassing and refreshing first-hand account of the early railway development in what is still known as the “Last American Frontier.”
This is the true story revealed of three men who were the prime movers behind an ambitious, turn-of-the-twentieth-century plan to develop Alaska—the J. P. Morgan – Guggenheim Alaska Syndicate, builder of the Kennecott Copper Mining Company, as well as the Copper River & Northwestern Railway.
George Cheever Hazelet, Stephen Birch and Captain David Jarvis were true pioneers of this great Alaska Territory and were backed by enormously wealthy men to whom failure was unacceptable. The challenges and setbacks of this gallant trio have been beautifully captured and documented in this third edition by the award-winning Alaska historian and author, the late Elizabeth A. Tower, MD.
354 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1996
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426 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth A. Tower
12 books2 followersDr. Elizabeth A. Tower and her husband, John, both young physicians, moved to Anchorage in 1954. A 1951 graduate of Case-Western Reserve School of Medicine, Elizabeth worked 25 years for the Alaska Division of Public Health.
After retiring in 1986, Dr. Tower began researching and writing about prominent people in Alaska history. She was named Historian of the Year by the Alaska State Historical Society in 1996 for Icebound Empire, a history of the founders of the Alaska Syndicate and the Kennecott Copper Company. She has also written short biographies of Stephen Birch, Sheldon Jackson, Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop, and William A Egan; a guide to skiing in Alaska; a history of Anchorage; and several prize-winning articles for Alaska History magazine. "
After retiring in 1986, Dr. Tower began researching and writing about prominent people in Alaska history. She was named Historian of the Year by the Alaska State Historical Society in 1996 for Icebound Empire, a history of the founders of the Alaska Syndicate and the Kennecott Copper Company. She has also written short biographies of Stephen Birch, Sheldon Jackson, Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop, and William A Egan; a guide to skiing in Alaska; a history of Anchorage; and several prize-winning articles for Alaska History magazine. "
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2021
I just finished reading “Icebound Empire: Industry and Politics on the Last Frontier 1898 – 1938" by Elizabeth A. Tower, M.D., originally published in 1996 and updated in 2015. Somewhere during our June trip to Alaska, I saw this book mentioned as a history of the area we visited near Kennicott and McCarthy. The book focuses on the discovery of gold and copper in the region and the lives of the men who came and settled in the area as a result. Three individuals in particular are the focus: George Hazelet, who left Nebraska to search for gold then became an entrepreneur in the Alaska Territory instead; Captain David Jarvis of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who became a player in the industrial moves of the early 20th century in the area; and Stephen Birch, who leveraged his connections with the Guggenheims and Morgans to invest in and build the Kennecott Copper Company. We visited the remains of the Kennecott Copper Company during our June visit, which closed in 1938 and is now part of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
The book is interesting to a certain degree if you have an interest in the area, as I do to some extent having visited twice. In 1898, Alaska was truly a frontier with limited infrastructure and a population of just 63,592 in 1900. As the territory gained interest from the outside world, the three pioneers and others sought to make their fortune by either profiting from Alaska’s resources or serving the needs of individuals coming to the state. Much of the book speaks to the politics of the time as competing interests battled for primacy. Some wanted to preserve the territory for conservation, while others wanted to mine its resources. Meanwhile, some Alaska residents were opposed to outside investors, such as the Guggenheim/Morgan-controlled Alaska Syndicate, profiting from Alaska’s resources, preferring revenue from such resources to be preserved for Alaskans. The book also discusses the building of some of the supporting infrastructure, particularly railroads but also roads and towns.
I did not know this while reading the book but the author and I have something in common, as she grew up in Cleveland. She attended the Laurel School in Shaker Heights and earned her medical degree from Western Reserve University (now known as Case Western Reserve) in 1951. After completing her residency, she and her husband John (also an M.D.) moved to Alaska and lived their lives there, serving in medical and public health roles. After her retirement, “Betsy” turned to another passion, researching and writing about local Alaskan history.
I would say this book is by a local, for locals. I think it is an easier read for someone with more knowledge of the area. Without the limited knowledge I have due to my two previous visits to the area, I probably would have been lost. Also, while Dr. Tower loves her subject, it is clear she is an amateur author. Sometimes material in one chapter is repeated in the next chapter. Other times, the text goes into excruciating detail of particulars of contracts and options when an overview would be better. Also, I was looking for more insight into the actual construction of the railroad from Cordova to Kennicott – part of the railroad was actually built on top of a glacier – but other than to note there was a lot of conflict regarding who got to build the railroad, it hardly gets a mention.
I’m glad I read the book, as the pioneers led interesting lives. If someone has an appreciation of Alaskan history and is looking for a deeper dive, then this book is an option. However, for the casual reader, I would not recommend it.
The book is interesting to a certain degree if you have an interest in the area, as I do to some extent having visited twice. In 1898, Alaska was truly a frontier with limited infrastructure and a population of just 63,592 in 1900. As the territory gained interest from the outside world, the three pioneers and others sought to make their fortune by either profiting from Alaska’s resources or serving the needs of individuals coming to the state. Much of the book speaks to the politics of the time as competing interests battled for primacy. Some wanted to preserve the territory for conservation, while others wanted to mine its resources. Meanwhile, some Alaska residents were opposed to outside investors, such as the Guggenheim/Morgan-controlled Alaska Syndicate, profiting from Alaska’s resources, preferring revenue from such resources to be preserved for Alaskans. The book also discusses the building of some of the supporting infrastructure, particularly railroads but also roads and towns.
I did not know this while reading the book but the author and I have something in common, as she grew up in Cleveland. She attended the Laurel School in Shaker Heights and earned her medical degree from Western Reserve University (now known as Case Western Reserve) in 1951. After completing her residency, she and her husband John (also an M.D.) moved to Alaska and lived their lives there, serving in medical and public health roles. After her retirement, “Betsy” turned to another passion, researching and writing about local Alaskan history.
I would say this book is by a local, for locals. I think it is an easier read for someone with more knowledge of the area. Without the limited knowledge I have due to my two previous visits to the area, I probably would have been lost. Also, while Dr. Tower loves her subject, it is clear she is an amateur author. Sometimes material in one chapter is repeated in the next chapter. Other times, the text goes into excruciating detail of particulars of contracts and options when an overview would be better. Also, I was looking for more insight into the actual construction of the railroad from Cordova to Kennicott – part of the railroad was actually built on top of a glacier – but other than to note there was a lot of conflict regarding who got to build the railroad, it hardly gets a mention.
I’m glad I read the book, as the pioneers led interesting lives. If someone has an appreciation of Alaskan history and is looking for a deeper dive, then this book is an option. However, for the casual reader, I would not recommend it.
January 21, 2026
A Deeply Engaging Portrait of Alaska’s Early Struggles
Icebound Empire is the kind of history book that grabs your imagination and doesn’t let go. Elizabeth Tower weaves together the lives of Alaska’s early pioneers with such clarity and emotion that you feel every triumph and setback. The combination of real diary entries, political drama, and frontier adventure makes this book impossible to put down.
It’s a powerful reminder of how much courage and sacrifice went into shaping Alaska. Tower brings forgotten stories back to life with respect, detail, and beautiful storytelling. A must-read for anyone who loves true history told with heart.
Icebound Empire is the kind of history book that grabs your imagination and doesn’t let go. Elizabeth Tower weaves together the lives of Alaska’s early pioneers with such clarity and emotion that you feel every triumph and setback. The combination of real diary entries, political drama, and frontier adventure makes this book impossible to put down.
It’s a powerful reminder of how much courage and sacrifice went into shaping Alaska. Tower brings forgotten stories back to life with respect, detail, and beautiful storytelling. A must-read for anyone who loves true history told with heart.
January 22, 2026
Immersive and Beautifully Detailed
Icebound Empire swept me into a world of harsh winters, bold dreams, and unbreakable determination. Elizabeth Tower recreates Alaska’s early years with such vivid detail that it feels like standing beside the pioneers themselves. A powerful blend of history and storytelling that stays with you long after the last page.
Icebound Empire swept me into a world of harsh winters, bold dreams, and unbreakable determination. Elizabeth Tower recreates Alaska’s early years with such vivid detail that it feels like standing beside the pioneers themselves. A powerful blend of history and storytelling that stays with you long after the last page.
January 22, 2026
Powerful, Honest, and Remarkably Human
What stands out most in Icebound Empire is its honesty Tower doesn’t shy away from the sacrifices, failures, and triumphs that shaped Alaska’s destiny. Her writing honors the people who lived these stories. This is a deeply human account of courage and ambition.
What stands out most in Icebound Empire is its honesty Tower doesn’t shy away from the sacrifices, failures, and triumphs that shaped Alaska’s destiny. Her writing honors the people who lived these stories. This is a deeply human account of courage and ambition.
February 20, 2016
Great book for telling you the history of Alaska from 1898-1938. I enjoyed all the personal aspects--the letters back and forth that told of various influential men of the time. The main focus was on George Hazelet. The book told the story of how he went to Alaska during the Gold Rush at the time, and ended up being a big part of the building of Alaska through starting townships and buying up land and finding copper and oil and buying into various industries. It's an amazing story throughout the book that shows the hardships that the early prospectors and industry leaders had to deal with, physically, with the icy glaciers and untamed land of Alaska, and politically, dealing with the government and railroads, trying to get Alaska recognized and get roads and railways funded, and well as laws to start towns. It's a compelling story in this very informative book. I recommend it. Thanks to the author and goodreads for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
If you read HAZELET'S JOURNAL, ICEBOUND EMPIRE tells the rest of George Cheever Hazelet's story along with two other gritty characters, Stephen Birch and David Jarvis. Also, if you want to learn more about the development of early Alaska railroads, Elizabeth Tower's book is an interesting read. Old Stone Press has added new content, maps and photographs to this "Special" third edition. The discovery of a hand written letter by George Hazelet to Catherine Wilson, a nomadic chronicler of events in early Alaska territory at the turn of the twentieth century and publisher of "Copper Tints," gives us an encompassing and refreshing first-hand account of the early railway development in what is still know as the "Last American Frontier."
March 5, 2016
Just, wow. I never thought I would want or need to know so much about Alaskan history. I was shocked by how detailed the book was. The tiniest details were included. In some places this definitely slowed the pace of the narrative, but it's absolutely incredible. I would definitely suggest this for any history lovers out there.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
November 14, 2015
This book was given to me by goodreads and I have to say that I really enjoy it, the information given was accurate and the pictures just make you easier to have a good point of view of that time, I recommend this book to all the people that are interested in Alaska and the industrial movement of the early twentieth century.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews