In the summertime, visitors easily outnumber the 300 year-round residents of Whittier, Alaska. It's easy to see the draw.
Whittier services
Click on a link to receive a directory of businesses that can help you make the most of your stay in the Whittier area.
Lodging
Charters and tours
Whittier profile
Whittier, with its population of about 200, sits snugly on Prince William Sound.
Specifically, it's on the northeast shore of the Kenai Peninsula, at the head of Passage Canal on the west side of Prince William Sound, 60 miles southeast of Anchorage.
Whittier is an ice-free gateway community to recreational and commercial activities on and around the waters of Prince William Sound. Residents and visitors enjoy sportfishing, kayaking and boating, commercial fishing and subsistence activities.
Major employers are the city of Whittier and Crowley Maritime, a company that transports cargo that arrives by ship to Anchorage via rail.
Tour boats, cruise liners and the state ferry transfer visitors to and from Whittier; visitors travel to and from Anchorage by train or by bus or car via the Portage Glacier Road and the Seward Highway. A $70 million road connection was completed in summer 2000 through the 2.5-mile-long Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.
There are also a state-owned airstrip and a city-owned seaplane dock. There is one school, attended by 24 students.
History
Passage Canal was once the quickest route from Prince William Sound to Cook Inlet. Chugach Indians would portage to Turnagain Arm in search of fish. Nearby Whittier Glacier was named for the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier; its name was first published in 1915 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
A port and railroad terminus were constructed during World War II by the U.S. Army for transport of fuel and other supplies into Alaska. The railroad spur and two tunnels were completed in 1943, and the Whittier Port became the entrance for troops and dependents of the Alaskan Command.
The huge buildings that dominate Whittier went up in 1948. The 14-story Hodge Building (now Begich Towers) was built for Army bachelors quarters and family housing, with 198 apartments. The Buckner Building, completed in 1953, has 1,000 apartments and was once the largest building in Alaska. It was called the ''city under one roof,'' with a hospital, bowling alley, theater, gym, swimming pool and shops for Army personnel. Whittier Manor was built in the early 1950s by private developers as rental units for civilian employees.
The port remained an active Army facility until 1960; at that time, the population was 1,200. Begich Towers was converted to condominiums in 1964 and now houses the majority of residents. The city was incorporated in 1969.
The little community is a gateway to a much bigger world -- Prince William Sound. Wildlife- and glacier-viewing day-cruise ships, sea kayaking companies and plenty of fishing charters all make Whittier a home base.
Some ocean-going cruise liners are calling at Whittier in 2004, making it the northern terminus of their trips. Travel on to Anchorage is by bus or train.
Even those who don't have water on the brain can enjoy a visit to this unique Alaska community. "Unique" doesn't mean "picturesque," however.
"The town isn't the most spectacular; it's mostly just concrete buildings," said Kelly Bender, vice president of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce. "But the setting here is spectacular.
"And there's really a lot more to do in town than most people would suspect."
There are a number of restaurants and shops along the Whittier waterfront. Swiftwater Seafood features some of the best deep-fried halibut and chips around, and the restaurant uses seafood from local fishermen -- so it's always fresh. Hobo Bay Trading Co. features buffalo burgers, there is a Chinese restaurant that has been operating for years and the community has three coffee shops.
The second Saturday of June is when the community sponsors the Walk to Whittier. Visitors will be able to walk the 2.5-mile Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel -- and save the usual $12 fee that cars have to pay. The tunnel, built for the Alaska Railroad, was opened to vehicle traffic in 2000. Prior to that, visitors had to take a train ride through the Chugach Mountains.
"A lot of people haven't been to Whittier before, and we think this is a great way to enjoy a special event and a unique experience," Bender said.
One recent year, 400 people walked the tunnel, and up to 1,000 may be expected. Walkers must wear protective headgear. Dress warmly, the tunnel never warms up above 45 degrees or so, she said.
While a tunnel walk is a unique opportunity, most Whittier visitors will choose to drive through or ride the train. And when they arrive, many will hop aboard one of three major cruise ships: Phillips' Cruises and Tours, Major Marine Tours or Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours.
The cruises last up to six hours. Each company has a specialty and a particular route. Prices range from about $100 to $130 for adults. Some of the cruises include a meal in the price, while others have a meal for an additional price.
Linda Brandon, sales manager with Major Marine Tours, said the sound's beauty attracts many visitors. Major Marine's five-hour cruise travels to Blackstone Bay.
"It's just a beautiful area," she said. "The beauty of the glaciers, the high, forested cliffs and mountains just draw people. We're really known for lots of glaciers in this part of the sound.
"In Blackstone Bay, you've got three active, calving glaciers right next to each other. We get out there and just sit in the protected waters of the bay and watch the glaciers for up to an hour. People really like to see the glaciers calve off."
Whittier's proximity to Anchorage makes it perfect for a day trip.
"We're only an hour from Anchorage," Bender said. "We're much closer than some other places in the state. Prince William Sound has protected cruising waters, so you don't have to worry too much about rough seas.
"There's good hiking right out of town, and you can take guided kayak trips right from Whittier. There is so much here."
