Whittier, Alaska, is one of the most isolated towns in America. There’s only one way in and one way out, and that’s through a tunnel. The town is unique because the majority of the residents live under one roof. In this building, there’s a post office, a grocery store, tunnels that connect schools, a laundry, and, of course, housing. There’s literally no reason to ever leave the building. Just over an hour from Anchorage, Whittier’s Begich Towers was originally built as a “secret military facility” for the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1974, it was converted into a residential space. Between 120 and 150 people live in Whittier, and 90% of them live in Begich Towers. Visitors can only gain access to the ground level of the 14-story complex, while the remaining floors are accessible only by residents. City government consists of a 7-member council, the mayor and 6 council members. The Whittier Police Department consists of Chief of Police Gordon Whittier and 2 patrol officers. The fire department is a volunteer fire and rescue service with mutual aid from neighboring departments. Most residents of Whittier work in construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting.
