History of the Central Brooks Range is an ambitious social history of the exploration of northern Alaska, including anthropological descriptions of the Native groups that make the central Brooks Range and its surroundings their home.

Humans have inhabited the stark landscape for thousands of years, and their adaptability is still evident there today. Combining early Western accounts with ethnohistory, William E. Brown shows readers the challenges of the Koyukuk region and the rich cultural heritage that still exists in the Arctic today. His clear and accessible writing leads the reader from prehistory through early exploration, mining, the gold rush, and finally to the creation of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in 1980.

Illustrated with over 100 historical photos and maps, this fascinating history conveys both the challenges and the rewards of life in the far north, Brown reveals the extraordinary ways that people survived in a rugged northern land.

This volume provides essential background for visitors who seek a deeper understanding of the land and its people. Historians, anthropologists, and students of Native stuides will find History of the Central Brooks Range a valuable addition to their collections.