The Whittier, Alaska Story
A town under one roof.
In the photo above is Whittier, Alaska, in 2006.
Mike of Alaska Stories has this memory:
“In the mid-1960s, my brother Tom and I rode the train from Anchorage to Whittier.
We had never been there before, and our imaginations didn’t prepare us for what we would experience.
Our train chugged along in the two-mile-long tunnel cut through a mountain. As we reached the Whittier end of the tunnel, sunlight bathed our train car. And much to our surprise, there it was.
On the right side of the train was a tiny city made up of multi-story, gray concrete buildings reaching skyward in the shadow of a mountain. It looked as if it had, at one time, been a movie set for an episode of the classic “Twilight Zone” TV series.”
Note:
The buildings we saw were left over from an abandoned Army post.
Where is this Place Called Whittier, Alaska?
You’ll find it by driving your vehicle or taking the Alaska Railroad about 60 miles southeast from Anchorage along the scenic Seward Highway, bordered by Cook Inlet. Your journey to Whittier will include a two-mile trip through a mountain tunnel.
Whittier History
For centuries, the area around Whittier was part of a passage used by the Chugach people between Prince William Sound and Turnagain Arm in Cook Inlet.
Both Russian and American explorers also used the passage, as did gold prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush.
Named after a Glacier that was Named after a Poet
In 1915, a nearby glacier (Whittier Glacier, pictured above) was named for the American Poet John Greenleaf Whittier.
Later, the new town was named Whittier.
The World War II Connection
During World War II, an Army post and railroad facility were constructed near the glacier. It was given the name Camp Sullivan.
Yes, You Can Share this Edition
Imagine how amazed your friends and family will be when you share this edition of the Alaska Stories with them. They will be so happy that they will name a town after you… well, it could happen.
For a While, They Were the biggest buildings in Alaska
In the photo above is the Buckner Building.
Completed in 1953, the Buckner Building once housed all of Whittier.
When the Buckner and Hodge buildings were built, they were the tallest buildings in Alaska.
The ALCAN Highway Connection
In the photo above is the 14-story Hodge Building, later renamed Begich Tower.
Completed in 1957, the Hodge Building was named after Colonel Walter William Hodge, who was the commanding officer of the 93rd Engineer Regiment for the construction of the Alaska Highway, also known as the ALCAN Highway.
Later converted into condominiums and renamed Begich Towers, in honor of Alaska political figure Nick Begich, this location is now home to most of Whittier.
Nick Begich
Pictured above is Nick Begich, an Alaska political figure.
March 27, 1964
On the afternoon of Good Friday, March 27, 1964, Alaska was struck by a 9.2 quake that shook for 5 minutes. As a result, Whittier sustained over $10 million dollars in damage.
Fact about Whittier
Did you know that Whittier, Alaska, is the wettest city in the United States?
It averages a soggy 197.8 inches of rain each year. And in the winter, Whittier receives 249 inches of snow.
And What About the Whittier Population?
Town folk number around 255 hearty souls.
Share the King Crab
In the mid-1960s, the restaurant in Whittier had a sign that read something like this.
“If you catch a crab and bring it here to share with everyone, we’ll cook it for free”
Mike of Anchorage Memories recalls the time when his brother Tom was fishing off the dock in Whittier. As he reeled in his line, he noticed there was something heavy on his hook. When it got closer to the surface, Tom was surprised to see that a king crab had grabbed hold of his line.
So Tom took his catch to the restaurant, walked in the door, held up the crab, and declared, “Fresh king crab all around.” The restaurant erupted in happy cheers.
BONUS
Do you want to know more?
Take a look at Whittier, Alaska, and discover.
From Our North Stars (that’s you)
From our Anchorage Memories Club edition, “Anchorage Airport Memories.”
Anne Wilbur remembers:
“Yes, I flew out of Merrill Field, Lake Hood, and International Airport (in Anchorage). Joe Wilbur and I owned Wilbur’s Flight Operations, Alaska Piper, and Flight Safety Alaska from 1960 until they were sold in 1995 and we retired to Girdwood, Alaska. I also flew out of the Girdwood Airport occasionally until 2010. 50 years.”
Mark added these facts:
“The strip was cleared by Anchorage townsfolk in May of 1923 with the hope of seeing airplanes land there one day. (They had to wait an entire year.)
The only airplane to be seen on that airstrip in 1924 was Noel Wien's J-1 Standard when he and his mechanic, Bill Younkers, were on their way to Fairbanks, and that was only in June and early July.
Wien and Younkers took off for Fairbanks on July 7. It was a miraculous flight, considering they didn't know where Fairbanks was; they only had one shot to get it right. And they only did it by following the gleaming rails of the Alaska Railroad, completed just one year earlier.”
Edi has this memory:
“When we swam in Anchorage’s Lake Spenard as teenagers. We used to "float" on the little waves created by planes taking off and landing with pontoons in the water of the canal from Lake Hood.
You can Read the whole Story
Take a look at Anchorage Airport Memories and enjoy.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Yes, the unique and picturesque town of Whittier, Alaska, is definitely a great place to visit.
Do you have a comment?
You can also reply to this email. Or, you can Contact Us right here to say, “I held my breath through the Whittier Tunnel.”
Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Alaska Stories