Prairie Boss: The Real-Life Story of Alexander McKenzie
First, he conquered Dakota. Then he tried to conquer Alaska.
Set against the tumultuous birth of Bismarck, North Dakota, Prairie Boss is a sweeping, cinematic historical epic inspired by the remarkable true story of Alexander McKenzie.
His story is a rare convergence of classic frontier Western crime saga, Gilded Age political thriller, and high-stakes gold heist—all while concealing a decades-long secret kept hidden even from his closest confidants.
Arriving on the frontier as an illiterate teamster, McKenzie rises to become sheriff of a lawless boomtown infamous for its bloody stretch known as “Murder Gulch.”
Ten years later, he engineers a political maneuver so brazen that it transforms him into the undisputed master of the northern prairie—wielding immense influence over railroads, banks, utilities, and grain cartels that he weaponizes to reward allies, crush opponents, and build a machine that dominates the state.
But when conquering the prairie isn’t enough, McKenzie sets his sights on the last untamed frontier: Alaska.
Coercing a corrupt federal judge to act as his pawn, McKenzie orchestrates an audacious plot to seize the territory’s richest gold district by armed force—triggering a national scandal that connects directly to President McKinley.
Crossing paths with figures such as George Armstrong Custer, Wild Bill Hickok, Sitting Bull, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Wyatt Earp, and Ulysses S. Grant, McKenzie’s journey reads like a sensational Hollywood blockbuster. Except, it’s inspired by real events.
Despite being one of the most influential people of the American West and inspiring a bestselling novel later adapted into multiple films, Alexander McKenzie remains largely forgotten today. His story deserves to be resurrected—and Prairie Boss delivers the most expansive dramatic narrative ever written about the man behind the McKenzie Machine.
Featuring nearly 100 cinematic, storyboard-style illustrations to bring key scenes to life!
