Evan McKinney

Evan McKinney is a Montana native, raised in Culbertson. He says he moved to Alaska to work and to escape the cold. Retired now, he lives back in Montana and writes to avoid the cold. His first book, High Iron to Fairbanks, Building the Historic Alaska Railroad, chronicles the Alaska Railroad’s construction, as experienced by a fictitious Alaskan working alongside historical figures. A supporting cast of off-beat characters add humor, and authentic photos augment this fun yet historically accurate story.

“My goal was to make history interesting,” said McKinney, who now lives in Polson. A back-cover quote from former Alaskan Governor Bill Sheffield suggests that McKinney’s goal was accomplished. Said Sheffield, “It reads like a history book with personality, thanks to the likeable, lively and humorous characters who inhabit its highly-readable pages.” The book won First Place in the History category of the Mill City Press 2017 Author awards.

McKinney is a former Vice President of the Alaska Railroad.