One of the strangest towns in Alaska, maybe even the entire country, can be found approximately 60 miles southeast of Anchorage. At first glance, this place may seem like any other typical seaside village. However, it isn’t long before visitors figure out that there’s something truly incredible about this place: most of the residents live under the same roof. Yes, you read that correctly. This town is so small that most of the people who live here are actually one another’s neighbors. And that’s not the only quirk this town contains. Whittier may just be one of the most unique communities you’ll ever come across, but that’s exactly what makes it such a fascinating place to visit.
If visiting the magnificent wilderness of Prince William Sound is on your bucket list, it's likely that you'll pass through the little town of Whittier. Dubbed "The Gateway To Prince William Sound", this small community sees a visiting population of over 700,000 people every year.
However, visiting Whittier can be a challenge in itself. After all, the only way in and out of town is a 2.5-mile long tunnel. At only 16-feet wide, traffic can flow in only one direction at a time, so prepare to wait your turn if you plan on visiting this strange town!
Once you do get into Whittier, you'll observe that the community is comprised of just a handful of buildings that are clustered together. Over the years, many of these buildings have been repurposed for new uses or abandoned completely.
The two largest structures are the Buckner Building and the Begich Towers. Constructed in the days of World War II, these buildings were meant as a sort of outpost for the military troops that resided here throughout the height of the Cold War.
Just seven years after construction, the military realized it had no use for such a remote outpost and completely abandoned the Buckner Building. It remains an empty shell to this day, providing shelter for random wildlife and succumbing to the natural elements.
However, Begich Towers is still fully functional. In fact, the structure is home to most of the town's 200 or so residents. On top of that, it's here you'll find the town's police department, post office, and even the neighborhood grocery store.
Daily life is different here in Whittier than it is anywhere else. Living in such close proximity to each other, the townspeople are more like family than random neighbors. Strangers simply don't exist here.
It may seem strange to think that people would choose to live in a town where everybody shares the same roof but that's just how it is here. Living in Whittier isn't exactly easy, but it's home. Experience a quirky slice of Alaska that few people know about and be sure to stop in at some point. Just be prepared to wait for the tunnel!
