Amazing Pipeline Stories

In the 1970s, the world's largest construction companies invaded Alaska in a wild rush to build the 800-mile $8 billion trans-Alaska pipeline.
Workers by the tens of thousands headed north, hoping to make their fortunes working on the pipeline, in a stampede that dramatically affected Alaska.
With the avalanche of big money and new arrivals came new problems: drugs, prostitution, gambling, and violent crime. Rapid economic and social changes ultimately touched the lives of virtually every Alaskan.
Journalist Dermot Cole, dean of the Alaska press corps, recalls the best of the pipeline stories with humor, authenticity, and drama.

Dermot Cole is a long-time newspaper columnist for theFairbanks Daily News-Miner. Cole grew up in Pennsylvaniaand lived in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Montana before movingto Alaska at the start of the pipeline boom. He studied journalismat the University of Alaska Fairbanks and was named aMichigan Journalism Fellow in 1986-87 at the University ofMichigan. He also worked for the Associated Press in Seattle.He lives north of Fairbanks with his wife, journalist DebbieCarter, and their children, Connor, Aileen, and Anne. Theyenjoy cross-country skiing in winter and camping, soccer, andsoftball in the summer.