Whittier Town offers a different experience by leaving all the towns you know behind and completely changes your perception of town. Almost all Whittier residents live in the Begich Towers Condominium. This has earned the city the nickname “town under one roof”. All residents of the city live in this building and do not go out unless they have to. Because everything they need is available in the building. This 14-storey building; it houses the church, the mayor’s office and the police station.
Whittier Township is located at the head of the Passage Channel, approximately 93 km southeast of Anchorage, in the US state of Alaska. The city also serves as a port for the Alaska Marine Highway. Places such as the post office, grocery store and school in the town are only an elevator away. Although this extremely strange situation may seem like a misunderstood example of municipality at first, it has a completely different story behind it.
The Story of Whittier Town
Whittier stands out as an important region in its past. Its location was once one of the transportation routes of the Chugach people native to Prince William Sound. This pass was later discovered by Russian and American explorers and was used for exploration by miners during the Klondike Gold Rush. The nearby Whittier Glacier was named after the famous American poet John Greenleaf Whittier in 1915, and that’s how the town was eventually named.
After World War II, the Alaska Defense Command decided to build a secret military facility. Certain conditions had to be met at this facility; access to a deep-water port, natural protection from air raids, and a radar-unsuitable topography. This facility was initially kept secret and even photography was not allowed. It contained barracks, dining areas, a theater and a port. The Alaska Railroad line to Camp Sullivan was completed in 1943, and the port was used as the entry point for United States troops into Alaska.
The war ended in 1945, but with the start of the Cold War with the Soviet Union in 1947, the US Army made a decision to increase its military strength. More than 1000 military personnel could be accommodated in this building. Later in 1957, the 14-story Hodge building was built to meet more needs.
In 1964, an earthquake occurred that deeply affected the town. This earthquake caused extensive damage to the port and railroad and destroyed many buildings throughout Alaska. However, this building, which was built about 10 years ago, remained standing and did not suffer any damage. Because this building was built for military purposes and was made sheltered against all dangers.
After the earthquake, the US government placed people in this building to help people. The building, which was part of the military border post, became home to almost the entire town. This was actually his first step towards becoming an independent city. This building, also called Hodge, aka Begich Tower, continued to be used while other buildings were abandoned. After the end of the war, the building was named Whittier, in memory of the American poet named John Greenleaf Whittier.
Features of the Begich Tower Building
Begich Tower is a 14-storey building and consists of three interconnected modules. There are 197 flats in total on the upper floors. There are all kinds of service units in a town such as shopping areas, offices, health center, post office, grocery store, police station, mayor’s office, church, hotel, school and laundry in the building. These service units are connected to each other through corridors and elevators. This building, which is still known to preserve its originality, has metal wardrobes and green military color counters.
It is known that about 300 people live in the town of Whittier and there is one-way transportation. The town of Whittier is only accessible by boat, and at the end of a single-lane tunnel the town emerges. The tunnel opens in the morning and closes at 22:00 in the evening.
This may seem very advantageous when you consider that you are in a place where you can meet all your needs in a few minutes and where the community lives together. This settlement can be a place that many people dream of or scare, and therefore attracts the attention of tourists. Begich Tower continues to host thousands of visitors every year as one of the most interesting settlements in the world.
Reasons for Living in a Single Building
The town of Whittier is an isolated place from other parts of Alaska and the rest of the world, and the nearest transportation point is exactly 60 miles away. This distance includes a waterway that can only be crossed by boats. This isolation factor distinguishes Whittier from other settlements and affects the daily lives of the townspeople. Limited transportation options make it difficult for townspeople to travel and interact with the outside world.
The main reason why people live in one area in Whittier, Alaska is the town’s harsh weather conditions. In winter, snow can reach a full 8 meters in Whittier, and during storms the wind blows at 115 km / h. This makes life very difficult and poses a serious challenge for people. Moreover, bears that frequent the area are also a factor to consider.
Due to these harsh conditions, a large number of people often have to stay at home and it becomes very difficult to go out. Severe weather conditions affect daily life and limit people’s ability to engage in social activities and travel. People living in Whittier have to take various measures to adapt to these harsh weather conditions and meet their daily living needs.
