The New Eldorado: A Summer Journey to Alaska

The narrator records a summer overland and sea journey from the American Midwest across the Northern Pacific Railroad into the Yellowstone region and onward to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Descriptions blend travelogue and natural history: prairie and mountain scenery, the Badlands, geyser basins, hot springs, volcanic formations, lakes and wildlife; accounts of climbing and observation of glaciers, forests, and coastal islands; sketches of frontier towns, mining districts, rail and steamship travel, and encounters with indigenous peoples and settlers; reflections on travel, scientific curiosity, and the lure of Alaska’s reputed riches.