Whittier, Alaska
Located on the western edge of Prince William Sound, Whittier is known throughout Alaska as south central Alaska’s gateway to Prince William Sound.
Whittier was originally established as a military supply point during World War II. Fearing invasion of Seward, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the town as an alternate supply route from the ocean to the interior of Alaska.
The economy of Whittier today consists mostly of shipping, fishing, and tourism. It is the northern terminus of several large cruise companies, attracting tens of thousands of cruise passengers each summer.
While Whittier is only 62 miles south of anchorage, getting there presents some rather unique challenges. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is a two and a half mile tunnel that goes through a mountain and connects Whittier to the rest of the Alaskan highway system. The one lane tunnel accommodates both automobile and rail road traffic, making it one of the most unique tunnels in America. An alternating schedule of north and southbound openings requires a little planning when traveling to Whittier. Click here for a schedule of the tunnel’s openings.