An Alaska town living under one roof
An Alaska town living under one roof
The Begich Towers, in Whittier, Alaska, built by the military during the Cold War as a no-frills barracks, is now home to the majority of the isolated town’s 300 or so residents. Correspondent Lee Cowan journeyed to Whittier to find out what it’s like for virtually the entire population to live at the same address.
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I would move there in a heartbeat. Its amazing.
Why close the tunnel at night? Just open it at all time. Or its not possible?
Are there any VA medical here
I’d love to go their,can someone bless me with an air ticket so I can go their?
Na that would be awesome š away from the rat race
Man being a drug dealer in this town would be an easy job but running from the police probably isn’t possible since they definitely know where you live.
I don’t think the 18 year old Janessa is his daughter
Peter santenello video was much better
I donāt live there and I want to get out
What about a doctor office or emergency services?
I would date her
Bittu chakkaaa
Did I heard right? 50 students? How can they afford to keep the school open, or do the parents have to pay?
My only thought is the maintenance in the building, thatās the logistics I wanna learn about š
your still alive???
No commute. Ideal for family. They have a train station and a road out for important trips…. I study Arcology and Whittier looks like one of those special places… A town inside building structures….
That would be my dream location to live if I had money to just live on :). Living a quiet simple life away from drama in that small Alaska town with a beautiful view outside my window. online shopping would pretty much be a permanent thing for me living there. Overall that place would be total bliss for me.
I used to live in Whittier, as a kid, before the Begich Towers building was constructed. – and even before the Army Buckner Building was constructed – when the original Army Post was an interconnected maze of Quonset huts.
I spent a lot of time wandering around the halls of the Buckner Building, which used to be an I interesting place, in its own right. I don’t recall the numbers, but it was a sizable Army Post under one roof – now abandoned and decayed by the elements; but still a massive and strong structure, even in its ‘shell’ state.
Whittier has gone through a lot of changes over the years. It used to be a hustling Army ‘town,’ with the federally owned Alaska Railroad – now privately owned – activities in second place.
Whittier used to get an ungodly amount of snow, with seriously short daylight, due to the surrounding mountains.
Thus, Whittier can potentially be a "depression hazard," with the added hazard of "Cabin Fever." Definitely not a healthy place, come winter, for anyone disposed to alcoholism and/or drug problems.
While little appreciated, Whittier has an interesting military history, dating to W.W. II, particularly after the Japanese invaded the Aleutian islands.
It’s very certain that it takes a special character and personality to live in Whittier on a year-round basis. Preferably in the format of a couple, with a healthy relationship, able to contribute to the "small town" nature of Whittier and Alaska, in general. It would be vital to keep active in some productive fashion, and be able to easily and actively socialize, lest a variant of "The Shining" evolve.
Luckily, it’s not particularly difficult to ‘escape’ to Anchorage for whatever reason, including a "sanity vacation." However, Anchorage has more than its share of drug and alcohol related ‘problems,’ thus caution is advised. Any related ‘problems’ can occur as a total surprise, even if caution is appropriately employed.
In contrast, Whittier might be better appreciated, than one might otherwise value. Not much of Alaska is less than an adventure for anyone living there in excess of six months out of a year.
How many appreciate that Alaska starts out as the northernmost, westernmost and easternmost state in the US, as the Aleutian Chain extends into the Eastern Hemisphere; bordered by Russia to the West and Canada to the East.
After that, Alaska can get seriously interesting; and reliably so. Those who don’t keep a serious journal/diary – add loads of pictures and videos – are cheating themselves and family out of a great legacy. The key is to include as many truly interesting accounts of others, as well, hopefully adequately annotated as to the source and timeframe.
In places such as Whittier, should life get boring; give it another fifteen minutes. Worst case, check the news in the Lower 49 (remembering that Hawaii is the southernmost state); and be grateful to be so far from such chaos. WELL, there’s always Anchorage if you’re somehow desperate or homesick for a little bit of that chaos. It’s nice to have such as purely an option – AND internet service, of course.
All that under one roof – WOW! It wasn’t like that when I was a kid, I guess I should get serious about an autobiography, while my memories are still available. Those were interesting times, as well. The Cold War started, the Korean War, then there was Mccarthyism, the Whittier docks fire; and radio shows like Amos and Andy, The FBI in Peace and War, Fibber McGee and Molly and occasional trips to Anchorage, with black and white TV at the Anchorage Hotel …..
Perfect for me to retire to. I’d love it
I know you like this series, did you see this episode?! Itās on YouTube and there are a couple more describing the life.
It takes a certain kind of person to live n Whittier. People who live there enjoy the simpler things in life and appreciate what they have. They also have the ability to accept others as they are, without placing their own expectations on them. The magnificence and beauty of the scenery is awe inspiring.
i couldnt help but think of the shining
The reason they are living in one building is because the land is all owned by the oil company. It is not their choices. LOL š¤£
I love this. I’d live here
make me cry and happy how great this place!!!
I would live here
Great š
I’m watching this on YouTube and enjoying it.
1:26 Wait, which city IS actually the weirdest in Alaska?
Sounds pretty awsome, with fishing and woodshop, it could be a nice place to live.
Itās a beautiful area , but ,itās not for me.
I was in the town a few years back. Interesting I must say.
Lived there. It is like a cult.
sad
Just have to say, the first guy you interviewed, recent transplant from North Carolina, doesnāt represent us longtime Alaskanās! Just saying! And remote Alaska? You can go through the tunnel, get right on the Seward Highway and be in Los Anchorage in an hour! Want real Alaska, get out to small fishing towns in southeast Ak, only accby floatplane, boat, state ferry boat, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg Kodiak island, prince of Wales island, etcā¦ thatās āreal Alaska ā!šš³
I wished they were interviewed jeanette
It must be tough getting those boats and aircraft through the tunnel.
Disaster
does amazon delivers there ?
Maybe one day I ll visit!!!!
Powerful statement āHave to learn to work together.ā
Never have to go outside seems like heaven for meā¦I like being inside
I watched a better version of this town on another youtube channel
Your chances of meeting a girl/guy are slim to none there. Hello being single for the rest of your life and never dating. No thanks.
nice masks dbags
I want to go there.
Itās crazy that one of the questions sheās most asked is, āis it depressing?ā That question is whatās wrong with our world. A place thatās so seemingly peaceful looks depressing. No mass shootings, no alarming crimes, no random disrespect and it seems āboringā because thereās no Starbucks or no corporations constantly selling you stuffā¦ smh
I just went into this building yesterday, and it’s absolutely magical. Whittier is amazing.
This hasn’t been true for years, it’s just a large building now.
I lived in Whittier two summers and one fall, 1972-1973. I loved it. I worked at the Sportsman’s Inn, on a road crew and in the sawmill. Lots of adventures.