🚢 Welcome to Whittier, Alaska

🏔️🌊 A Hidden Port Beneath the Mountains
Tucked between glaciers, waterfalls, and steep cliffs at the edge of Prince William Sound, Whittier is one of Alaska’s most unique and fascinating communities. Accessible by boat, plane, or a single one-lane tunnel through a mountain, Whittier is a true hidden gem—remote, scenic, and rich in history.

📜 A Military Past and a Tunnel to the Future

Whittier’s modern history began during World War II, when the U.S. military sought a deep-water port safely nestled in Alaska’s rugged coastline. The town was built as a strategic military base, with the Port of Whittier serving as a critical supply hub.

In 1956, the iconic Begich Towers—originally known as the Hodge Building—was completed to house hundreds of military personnel. Today, it’s still home to nearly all of Whittier’s roughly 200 year-round residents, making it one of the most unique towns in the world where most of the population lives under one roof! 🏢❄️

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a 2.5-mile-long tunnel through solid rock, opened to public vehicles in 2000 and remains the longest highway tunnel in North America 🚗🛤️—the only land route connecting Whittier to the rest of Alaska.

🌊 Nature, Glaciers, and Gateway to Adventure

Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and glacier-fed waters, Whittier is a launching point for adventure in Prince William Sound. Visitors can take glacier cruises, go kayaking with sea otters, or hop on a fishing charter for halibut and salmon 🐟. Towering waterfalls cascade down the cliffs, and the wildlife includes whales 🐋, seals 🦭, puffins 🐧, and black bears 🐻.

In summer, the harbor bustles with activity from ferry passengers, cruise ships, and outdoor enthusiasts. In winter, the snow-covered mountains offer backcountry skiing and epic coastal beauty.

🏡 Life in a Mountain-Wrapped Village

Life in Whittier is peaceful, self-reliant, and shaped by the surrounding wilderness. The Begich Towers acts as a self-contained community with housing, city offices, a grocery store, post office, and even a church—making Whittier famously close-knit and weather-proof during long winters.

Though small, the town is welcoming and fascinating to explore—whether you're coming for a quick stop on a scenic drive or looking to slow down and settle into a life by the sea.

🌟 Whittier Awaits – Remote, Remarkable, and Real Alaska

Whittier may be hard to find, but once you arrive, you’ll never forget it. From its military-built past to its breathtaking fjords and glaciers, Whittier is a town like no other—a portal to Alaska’s wild heart.