Whittier, Alaska: The Town Under One Roof
Whittier, Alaska is famous as the town under one roof: the 2010 U.S. Census counted 220 residents (rising to 272 in the 2020 Census), and nearly everyone lives inside a single 14-story former military barracks built in 1956.
Almost the entire town of Whittier lives inside the 14-story Begich Towers complex
Most of Whittier’s day-to-day infrastructure sits right inside this complex, known as Begich Towers. Under one roof you will find the police station, post office, grocery store, medical clinic, church, laundry room and even an indoor playground.
One Building Instead of an Entire Town
Begich Towers surrounded by Alaskan mountains – daily errands rarely require stepping outside
The U.S. Army built the structure during the Cold War, and it was later converted into a residential condominium. During harsh coastal blizzards, that layout is a huge relief: locals can pick up groceries, check mail or visit the clinic in slippers using the interior hallways and elevators.
A Single-Lane Tunnel Through the Mountain
The only road into Whittier by land runs through the 4 km Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a single-lane passage that closes at night. Railroad tracks share the exact same bore, so cars and trains take turns moving through on a strict schedule.
The 4 km single-lane tunnel shared by both highway traffic and trains
Busy Summer Harbor and Six Meters of Snow in Winter
In summer, Whittier comes alive as cruise ships, private boats and commercial vessels bring thousands of visitors into Whittier’s harbor on the western side of Prince William Sound. The scenery around the bay is stunning.
Summer view of Whittier’s quiet harbor
Docks and steep mountains around Prince William Sound
Overview of Whittier nestled between the bay and the mountains
Winter tells a very different story: up to 6 meters of snow bury the town, and winds near 100 km/h are nothing unusual here. Because the weather turns fierce, schoolchildren walk from Begich Towers to the local school through a dedicated underground tunnel.
Layout of Whittier and its main buildings
It would be fun to spend a couple of months in a building like this just for the experience – maybe not a lifetime, though. You can explore the town on Google Maps, and the city’s official site whittieralaska.gov occasionally posts municipal job openings if anyone is feeling adventurous :-)