In this Alaska town, everyone lives under one roof
Whittier, a small town in Alaska, is unique in that all of its 300 residents live in the same building. The 14-story Begich Towers serves as a self-sufficient structure with a hospital, a school, a police station, a grocery store, a church, a post office, and city government. Originally built as a Cold War behemoth, the building also has paths to reach each individual institution. The only way to access the town is through a tunnel under a glacier, which was previously only accessible by train during winter. However, 15 years ago, Alaska converted the World War II rail tunnel to handle cars too, which means that residents have until 10:30 p.m. to make it back to town before the tunnel closes for the night.
According to Erika Fitzgerald, who previously lived in Whittier, the tunnel creates its own sense of isolation, but the unique setup of the town creates a certain fascination for outsiders. The school’s website reports that around 60 students are enrolled for the year, and one resident named Janessa Lorenz became viral on TikTok after taking viewers inside the building. Lorenz said the video was intended for her friends and family but was surprised to find her video has millions of views. Lorenz also showed viewers the abandoned Buckner Building in the town, formerly a US military site during World War II, which at one point was the largest building in the state. Whittier Manor is a smaller condominium where 15% of the town’s population lives.
FAQs:
Q: How many people live in Whittier, Alaska?
A: Around 300 people live in Whittier, Alaska.
Q: How do residents access the town?
A: The only way to access the town is through a tunnel under a glacier, which was previously only accessible by train during winter. However, 15 years ago, Alaska converted the World War II rail tunnel to handle cars too, which means that residents have until 10:30 p.m. to make it back to town before the tunnel closes for the night.
Q: What is unique about Whittier, Alaska?
A: All 300 of its residents live in the same building, the 14-story Begich Towers, which is self-sufficient with a hospital, a school, a police station, a grocery store, a church, a post office, and city government.
Everyone in this town in Alaska resides under a single roof.
Imagine living in a town where all 300 residents live under one roof. This is the reality in the small Alaskan town of Whittier, where the majority of inhabitants lived in the 14-story Begich Towers until 2023. The tower was previously used as a Cold War behemoth and now houses a hospital, school, police station, grocery store, church, post office, and city government, with pathways connecting each institution. The town is located 1.5 hours southwest of Anchorage and can only be accessed through a tunnel under a glacier, or by sea. The tunnel used to be accessible by train during winter when the weather permitted, but 15 years ago, it was converted to accommodate cars too. Residents have until 10:30 pm to get back to town before the tunnel closes.
Erika Fitzgerald, a former resident of Whittier, described how the tunnel’s timetable creates its unique isolation, preventing visitors from entering the town after dark. There are around 60 students enrolled in the town’s school, according to the website.
The Begich Towers are not the only buildings in Whittier. Janessa Lorenz took to Tiktok to show viewers around the town and its buildings, including the Buckner Building, which was once the largest in the state and housed a bowling alley, movie theater, units, and a pool before being abandoned. The smaller condominium known as Whittier Manor is where the remaining 15% of the town lives. Lorenz’s Tiktok video went viral, showing the many hallways, post office, grocery store, and school, all accessible via an elevator. The town’s unique living situation has attracted fascination, with many visitors intrigued by the idea of living under one roof.