Camp Century

Though it only existed from 1959 to 1966, Camp Century remains a living—and deeply compelling—story today. Its history sweeps across Cold War intrigue to nuclear missiles hidden under ice; from the Arctic’s defeat of nuclear-powered techno-hubris to ice cores at the heart of climate science; and from Danish and American politics to the (now) semi-independent Greenlanders who must live with Camp Century’s legacy as the melting ice reveals its radioactive remains. This lively and intelligent book, beautifully translated from the Danish, gives Camp Century its first full accounting in English. -- Paul N. Edwards, author of A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming
Camp Century, the U.S. Army’s long-defunct encampment under the Greenland ice sheet, stands as a metaphor for the mess that military meddling can make in human affairs and in otherwise pristine environments. It is a story of the instability of diplomatic relationships, interservice rivalries, Cold War strategies, and Arctic knowledge. This exhaustively researched book by two Danish experts is a comprehensive study of the life and thorny legacy of the controversial ‘city under the ice’—an imploding ghost town that just won’t go away. -- James Rodger Fleming, author of Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control
Camp Century paves new ground and compiles much disparate data under one roof. It will soon become a source book for the growing number of scholars interested in Greenland’s past—as well as its political future. -- Mary Thompson-Jones, author of To the Secretary: Leaked Embassy Cables and America's Foreign Policy Disconnect
A new book tells the exciting story about Camp Century, established under the inland ice in Greenland by the USA at the height of the Cold War. In a thorough and pedagogic manner, the authors include many details about the construction of the camp and the daily life of its inhabitants. The combination of minor details and the greater picture makes the reader feel that this is the complete story of Camp Century. Read this book, and this is all you have to read about Camp Century. -- Andreas Krog, Arctic News
Henry Nielsen and Kristian Hvidtfelt Nielsen have produced a highly qualified book about fascinating aspects of the Cold War with implications for the present and the future. The book builds on extensive research, but will be an easy read for most people. -- David Kyng, Notes
A thrilling book about what once expired under the ice in Greenland. Excellent researchers from Aarhus University have dug deep into the archives to find out what really took place, unraveling the extraordinary power games played by the super powers at the time. -- Finn Byrgesen, Bogsyn.dk
A must-read for any historian with a serious interest in the Cold War...an important, well-researched scholarly book of high analytic quality. * The Northern Mariner *
Remarkable for its original research and insightful analysis. * Metascience *
Makes for a highly accessible and engaging read, a testament to the skills of both authors and translator. The writing is supplemented by abundant photographs and illustrations, bringing to life the history of the camp and helping to visualize the considerable accomplishments it entailed. * Technology and Culture *