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All the United States Alaska Whittier Whittier, Alaska

Whittier, Alaska

This small city where almost everyone lives in the same building can only be reached via North America's longest tunnel.

Whittier, Alaska

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Eric Grundhauser
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Whittier, Alaska   Eli Duke on Flickr
Begich Towers, where most of Whittier lives.   Jessica Spengler/Wikipedia
Whittier, Alaska   127x0x0x1/Wikipedia
Alaska Railroad, Whittier Marina   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
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Cruise Ship Docked in Whittier, Alaska   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Begich Towers, Whittier   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Cruise Ship Docked in Whittier, Alaska   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Alaska Railroad, Whittier Marina   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Whittier, Alaska   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Buckner Building, Whittier   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
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Coming into Whittier   Noella T / Atlas Obscura User
Cafe in Whittier   Noella T / Atlas Obscura User
Businesses in Whittier   Noella T / Atlas Obscura User
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March 2018   Laflaneure / Atlas Obscura User
Whittier, Alaska   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Whittier Marina   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
Whittier Marina   judyinalaska / Atlas Obscura User
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The small city of Whittier, Alaska has only two large buildings. One is abandoned and frequented by bears, while the other houses almost all of the city's population. Neither can be reached without first passing through the longest tunnel in North America (either by car or train). 

Named after a nearby glacier, the city of Whittier was established in World War II as a military supply post named Camp Sullivan. American soldiers arriving in Alaska would assemble at the camp before moving out. The military presence remained in the city until 1960, when it became a fishing port all its own. 

Other than the sea port, the only way into or out of what is now Whittier is the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a 13,000-foot tube that runs right under an entire mountain. 

Two massive structures left behind by the military dominate the city skyline: the Buckner Building and Begich Towers. The former has been abandoned due to structural damage caused by an earthquake in the 1960s and a deadly asbestos problem, but the latter is still in use as the city's central accommodation. The building is mainly filled with privately owned condominiums that house almost all of Whittier's population, reserving just the top and ground floors for commercial space.

Related Tags

Eccentric Homes Tunnels Homes Subterranean Sites

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Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

littlebrumble, ianw, Laflaneure, anneswilliams...

  • littlebrumble
  • ianw
  • Laflaneure
  • anneswilliams
  • Taterchips
  • Noella T
  • judyinalaska

Published

September 8, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittier,_Alaska#Buckner_Building
  • http://www.alaskatravel.com/whittier/
  • http://www.whittieralaskaguide.com/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittier,_Alaska#Climate
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier, Alaska, 99693
United States
60.773056, -148.683889
Visit Website

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