The Whittier Glacier near
Whittier was named for the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier
in 1915. During World War II the United States Army constructed a
military facility, complete with port and railroad terminus near
the glacier and named the facility Camp Sullivan. The spur of the
Alaska Railroad to Camp Sullivan was completed in 1943 and the
port became the entrance for United States soldiers into Alaska.
The port remained an active army facility until 1960. The two
huge buildings that dominate Whittier were built after World War
II. The Hodge Building (now Begich Towers) was built for housing
soldiers and the Buckner Building, completed in 1953, was called
the "city under one roof". Both buildings were at one
time the largest buildings in Alaska. The Begich Building is now
a condominium, and houses nearly all of Whittier's residents. The
port remained an active Army facility until 1960. Whittier was
incorporated in 1969.
The town was severely
damaged by tsunamis triggered by the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake,
thirteen people died due to waves that reached 13 m (43 ft).
Whittier is a popular port
of call for cruise ships, as it has connections to Anchorage and
the interior of Alaska by both highway and rail. It is the
embarkation/ debarkation point of the Denali Express nonstop rail
service to and from Denali National Park operated by Princess
Tours. Whittier is also popular with tourists, sport fishermen
and hunters.
As of 2006, the population
was 177. The city is also a port for the Alaska Marine Highway.
Here are some
of my impressions - click on a picture to have a larger version
| We
had a quick sightseeing in Wittier before we reached the
boat |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| and
this is most of what are to be seen there |
 |
 |
 |
 |
< Back to the index
