Why Alaska's "City under one roof" will Collapse | The Rise and Fall of Wittner

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  • Опубликовано: 4 фев 2025

Комментарии • 127

  • @ITSHISTORY
    @ITSHISTORY  Год назад +68

    Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed my mispronunciation of Whittier. Don't worry; it was all part of my plan to get more comments and engagement for the RUclips algorithm! So please keep those comments coming! What topic do you want to see next?

    • @CologneCarter
      @CologneCarter Год назад +10

      Nice try, but no cigar. In your intro you started the sentence with "Did you know that Wittner..."

    • @renegilmore9890
      @renegilmore9890 Год назад

      Fort Egbert, Yukon Alaska. Please and thank you. ❤

    • @denali9449
      @denali9449 Год назад +2

      @@CologneCarter Have you never heard of sarcasm?

    • @lsdzheeusi
      @lsdzheeusi Год назад +8

      The episode where you get an editor to proofread your scripts and check content before publishing.

    • @michaelwhite2823
      @michaelwhite2823 Год назад

      I saw this on Mysteries of the Abandoned. I know you will do a better job. In face I wish you'd redo all their episodes.

  • @absea7918
    @absea7918 Год назад +17

    My family and I went there last summer. The tunnel isn't too bad, and its set up like a ferry boat, where you wait in a queue, then "board" and use the tunnel at each end. Funny to see such high density housing in rural Alaska, but interesting how people seem to have adapted to it.

  • @garbonzo540
    @garbonzo540 Год назад +51

    We live in Fairbanks and come to Whittier for the beautiful vistas and the excellent shrimping. Biggest spot prawns I've ever seen! Driving through the train tunnel is a truly unique experience and if you live in Alaska or plan to visit, I highly recommend a trip to Whittier.

    • @anthonyloconte7835
      @anthonyloconte7835 Год назад +4

      My son is stationed in Fairbanks.

    • @arfriedman4577
      @arfriedman4577 Месяц назад

      I would love to visit Alaska one day. I found Alaska interesting when I learned about in school.
      Approx 2009 I think, I saw Alaska Show about the train. One couple took a snow mobile to meet the train. Then I saw Alaskan Bush People, the kilchers, and the native Alaskan family.
      I know the shows are not totally real, but it gives an idea.

  • @freetolook3727
    @freetolook3727 Год назад +41

    Back in the day when it was still possible to get large, impossible or complicated projects completed in a timely matter without all the bickering, cost overruns, and endless amounts of catering to small groups like today.
    Today a project like that would take 10-15 years to build, have a 200% cost overrun and be a compromise of design that would only last 20 years.

    • @nowake
      @nowake Год назад

      @@klaaturivera3746 None of our vendors are holding their prices, we can't hold ours. Do you want it built, or not? Lotta other people out there who need their stuff built, too.

    • @fredkithcart5237
      @fredkithcart5237 Год назад +3

      And cost astronomical amounts because of having to pay union wages

    • @dano8613
      @dano8613 Год назад

      @@fredkithcart5237 thank you lol I was hoping to see this comment

    • @KleinerHerrMü
      @KleinerHerrMü 4 месяца назад

      Hm...I get the point, but I believe in this case it might be different. As these were military buildings I think it would still be possible to do it and quickly, even more so if there was an immediate threat. I grew up in one of the smaller cities in Germany were the US Army kept a permanent presence. Lots and lots of buildings in fenced off areas, all little towns for themselves. It was fun if you knew someone who worked for the US Army as a contractor, they could bring you stuff from their shops never to be seen or tasted before 😋 That was 35 years ago, and I left there about 15 years ago, but I have read that the US Army are planning to increase their presence there once more due to the war in Ukraine. All their sites from then are still up, running and in good shape, doing business with the locals as usual, and the locals doing business with them and bickering with them, also as usual. I got to see the apartment area of such a little town once when I was working as a building cleaner, doing the cleaning immediately after construction. They were pretty nice and built stable. Compared to what is rentable in Germany these days, they were just superb 👌

  • @uasparts
    @uasparts Год назад +41

    Is Ryan drunk?! Heard him call it Whittier, Whittner, and Whittnier all within seconds of each other 😆

    • @rongendron8705
      @rongendron8705 Год назад +3

      I agree! Can't he get the name straight? p.s. I've been to Whittier in 1999!

    • @codehaunta9878
      @codehaunta9878 Год назад +2

      Not the only case of mispronunciation or misuse of language splattered all across these videos

    • @michaelcoonce6694
      @michaelcoonce6694 Год назад

      I was there this summer and found it fascinating. I can't wait to go back

    • @jrm255
      @jrm255 4 месяца назад

      So what!

  • @brendakrieger7000
    @brendakrieger7000 Год назад +6

    Thanks for covering this one! I've heard about this before,but never in this much detail.

  • @liamthompson9342
    @liamthompson9342 Год назад +8

    I saw another video about this place that focused on a couple that moved there and opened a fish and chip restaurant. Reportedly it's pretty good.

  • @renegilmore9890
    @renegilmore9890 Год назад +34

    As an Alaskan, I fell for the comment trap. ❤

    • @howitzer8946
      @howitzer8946 Год назад +7

      Agree click bait.

    • @Bergmann.Alaska
      @Bergmann.Alaska Год назад +8

      As an Alaskan you should be giving them hell for this fast food quality garbage report.. They didnt even get the name right half the time..

  • @mstsp9546
    @mstsp9546 Год назад +6

    Its amazing that people have lived there as long as they have. Interesting.

  • @superbee-di5tp
    @superbee-di5tp Год назад +7

    Peter Santenello did a pretty good video on this. I recommend people to watch his video.
    He actually interviews people that live there. He is shown around inside.
    The name of the video is The Alaskan town that lives in one building.

    • @Shin_Lona
      @Shin_Lona Год назад +3

      Quite possibly the nicest people on Earth. That video restored my faith in humanity.

    • @Josh-yr7gd
      @Josh-yr7gd 9 месяцев назад +3

      I was going to mention this. Great video. The lady who gave Peter the tour was so friendly and genuine.

    • @KleinerHerrMü
      @KleinerHerrMü 4 месяца назад

      Yes, you are right, it is a lovely video, watched it a few days ago. Also, Peter seems to be a decent guy, first video I watched from him, and I liked it a lot.

  • @robertreisner6119
    @robertreisner6119 Год назад +16

    Whitter has very little flat land but is not failing. Seward has a deeper ice free port that also has rail and road sources. Seward also has one of the best Flood Services in our nation according from FEMA. While Whitter is closer to Anchorage it's resources are more limited than Seward.

  • @nemo2203
    @nemo2203 Год назад +9

    One journalist told the story long time ago. Not all residents live in that building, one of them lives in a hut or mobile home next to that building.

  • @adamvolcek9618
    @adamvolcek9618 Год назад +5

    This was our main embark/disembarkation on our wedding/honeymoon cruise from here on Cruise West and the 'Spirit of Columbia' in 2010. It's a pretty interesting place.

  • @ItsEverythingElse
    @ItsEverythingElse Год назад +1

    My bucket list includes spending a winter in Whittier.

  • @kennethjacobus6541
    @kennethjacobus6541 Год назад +12

    In Mr. Whitekeys Great Alaska show, he presents a song "Nothing can be shittier than to find yourself in Whittier in the morning." I went to a restaurant in Whittier some years ago on a Saturday morning, and asked the waitress what she recommended from the menu. Her response was "Nothing, the cook gets drunk on Friday night and everything on Saturday is terrible." I can't remember what I ordered, but she was right. One of my friends lived with her boyfriend in the Begich towers, but broke up with him and moved back to Anchorage last year. I don't know whether it was Whittier or her boyfriend, probably both. Nevertheless, as an Alaskan, I like Whittier and believe it is very beautiful. I last visited in 2022 to pick up someone from a cruise ship.

    • @denali9449
      @denali9449 Год назад

      Whitekeys, a true Alaskan treasure! "Spawn 'till you die!"

  • @adamvolcek9618
    @adamvolcek9618 Год назад +9

    I'd love to see a video on Meigs Field.

    • @DoughboyPathyUSA
      @DoughboyPathyUSA Год назад

      I believe there has been one, search "Chicagos Forgotten Airfield"

    • @adamvolcek9618
      @adamvolcek9618 Год назад

      @@DoughboyPathyUSA Nope, there is mention of it in Chicago's Forgotten Island, but that's it.

  • @OriginalStachuJones
    @OriginalStachuJones Год назад +9

    I saw documentary about it on other channel and I was hugely surprised to see polish person living there. We're everywhere 😂

  • @b.s.adventures9421
    @b.s.adventures9421 Год назад +2

    Some of my cousins lived there for years and years.
    I grew up outside of wasilla.
    Had some other family in anchorage.

    • @b.s.adventures9421
      @b.s.adventures9421 Год назад

      Last time I was there it was train only.
      Before the added the road bed.

  • @rjoshb
    @rjoshb Год назад +5

    I was there two weeks ago. The building looked pretty solid to me.

  • @richardkendall6746
    @richardkendall6746 Год назад +4

    I lived in Whittier from 1952-53 serving in the army transportation corps during the Korean war. In early 1953 a fire completely destroyed the docks and we relocated to Seward. Does Portage Glacier still hang over the town?

  • @hank5500
    @hank5500 Год назад +5

    for once I can say I have been there, beautiful place.

  • @dano8613
    @dano8613 Год назад

    Everyone needs to visit at least once.

  • @Rock-Forehead
    @Rock-Forehead Год назад +5

    i remember having to load the cars at girdwood in order to take the flatbeds to whittier. funny how much and little has changed here...

  • @0fficialdregs
    @0fficialdregs Год назад +1

    I seen about this town and everything. i love the fact the entire town is in a hotel building and everyone knows each other

    • @0fficialdregs
      @0fficialdregs Год назад +1

      @@SavedForThis from what i saw, the majority of the town are in the one hotel building with some others in their respective structures.

    • @0fficialdregs
      @0fficialdregs Год назад +1

      @@SavedForThis damn, inflation has kicked this country ass big time

  • @darrendavis4731
    @darrendavis4731 Год назад +3

    The things that can be built with other people's money are amazing.

  • @StevenTorrey
    @StevenTorrey Год назад +1

    @4:16 His name is John Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 - September 7, 1892)...

    • @ingibingi2000
      @ingibingi2000 Год назад

      So many things named after him in the merrimack valley Massachusetts. Had an English teacher who said she'd never even heard of him till moving to the area

  • @KayakTN
    @KayakTN Год назад +7

    The last time I was there, it was *so* foggy. Couldn't see a damn thing.
    Try the train ride. It's nice.

  • @denali9449
    @denali9449 Год назад +8

    Whittier has only one claim to fame these days; they serve as a small boat harbor for Anchorage. For years Anchorage boaters had to trailer their boats to Seward or Homer to get in any decent fishing or if very lucky they could lease a slip from either city which is both expensive and extremely difficult to get. Either way, it was a 2 - 3 day commitment; now it can be a day-trip. As I recall, the construction of the first harbor and the opening of the rail tunnel to vehicle traffic were simultaneous.

    • @andrewalexander9492
      @andrewalexander9492 Год назад +2

      " As I recall, the construction of the first harbor and the opening of the rail tunnel to vehicle traffic were simultaneous. " You recall incorrectly. Long before the tunnel was modified for vehicle traffic, there were car trains which ran between Portage and Whittier. For a fee, you could drive your truck and trailered boat onto a flatcar with side rails and ride the train through the tunnel, and unload your vehicle and boat in Whittier. The ramp platform used for loading the cars on the trains is still there in Portage. And there most certainly was a small boat harbor prior to the tunnel being opened for vehicle.. Whittier was a pretty busy port for the PWS fishing fleet, as well as recreational boating.

  • @AmsterdamHeavy
    @AmsterdamHeavy Год назад +2

    I have a friend whos been here. Great fishing in the area.

  • @Jpkjr52
    @Jpkjr52 Год назад

    Thanks again John in Chicago

  • @stevekeast2297
    @stevekeast2297 Год назад +1

    Plan on visiting there this summer never been to Alaska only state that I have not visited

  • @themeantuber
    @themeantuber Год назад +1

    I knew about this. I'd love to live there.

  • @debbieannsmith8962
    @debbieannsmith8962 Год назад

    Amazing

  • @Mk99987
    @Mk99987 Год назад +3

    Why don’t you correct the title?

  • @jrasicmark1
    @jrasicmark1 Год назад

    I'm confused. Is it Whittier or Wittner? You use both names in the video (and Wittner in the title), but I didn't catch the part of the video where you mention any name change to Wittner?

  • @jiminalaska
    @jiminalaska Год назад +4

    People also live in the Manor, not everyone lives in one building. I live there.

  • @Kev4Kev
    @Kev4Kev Год назад +3

    So what happens if there is ever an issue with the apartment building ? That really seems like putting all your eggs in one basket. They really should have another building or two for people to live in.

    • @spannajupiter
      @spannajupiter Год назад

      Problem is there is no free land to build another. Its all owned by railways appently

    • @jzlove5088
      @jzlove5088 Год назад

      There is other places to live and another condo association, called the Whittier manor.
      Don’t believe everything you see on the internet my friend.
      I currently live in Whittier and have for 23 years.

  • @seanreid349
    @seanreid349 Год назад

    How do you get prince of willliam

  • @arnepianocanada
    @arnepianocanada Год назад +10

    SAY THE NAME THE SAME WAY ALWAYS! Wittier/Wittner/Wittnier?🤔 Consistently proper pronouncing shows basic respect for the site and people.

  • @dolsiemercado3140
    @dolsiemercado3140 Год назад +2

    Sad how people stop caring for that building.

  • @thomaspierce9458
    @thomaspierce9458 Год назад

    ...-the correct term for any establishment which houses coin-operated washers and dryers for public use is "laundromat"...

  • @dragonslyer74
    @dragonslyer74 6 месяцев назад

    I'm here in Whittier watching you show about Whottier

  • @haweater1555
    @haweater1555 Год назад +2

    Disappointed you didn't show how road vehicles were moved by flat car on a train through the tunnel before the tunnel was converted to drive-thru.

    • @onrr1726
      @onrr1726 Год назад

      Pentrex Video did 4 or 5 video series on the Alaska Railroad. Volume 1 was filmed around 1985 / 1986 and shows the Alaska Railroad operations in and Whittier, Alaska including Railroad Car float operations there. Greenfrog Productions also did a few Alaska Railroad videos as well.

  • @turdferguson7686
    @turdferguson7686 Год назад +5

    pft, ive gone weeks without leaving my house too. no shops or anything in my house though. because im not weak. and im very anti social. and everything can be delivered these days....

  • @sl0523
    @sl0523 Год назад +1

    Is it just me or does anyone else want to know the dating life in this one-condo town?

  • @salvadorlopez-beltran6734
    @salvadorlopez-beltran6734 Год назад

    Is it Whittier or Wittmer?

  • @Afencingbear
    @Afencingbear Год назад

    I know its kinda weird to dislike a video and leave a rude comment without watching the video but you misspelled Whittier in the title

  • @patrickbennett439
    @patrickbennett439 Год назад

    Is it Whitner or Whittier? Im confused now.. Im from Alaska lol. I tried googling it too. hmmm

  • @jetsons101
    @jetsons101 Год назад

    Thanks for a great watch, This would have been a perfect vid for your hat......

  • @MrLamchp
    @MrLamchp Год назад +2

    You do such a great job, we'll let you go this time. Lol

  • @IDNHANTU2day
    @IDNHANTU2day Год назад +1

    Let Take A Trip Down Whittier Blvd - Thee Midniters 1960'a Hit (on RUclips)

  • @ingibingi2000
    @ingibingi2000 Год назад

    I believe it is John Greenleaf Whittier, I thought the only things names after him were in the merrimack valley

  • @wymple09
    @wymple09 Год назад +2

    Only accessible by a train tunnel. I guess float planes, common in Alaska, and helicopters can't fly in that air. Boats can't float on that water, either.

  • @michaelwhite2823
    @michaelwhite2823 Год назад

    I've seen this covered on Mysteries of the Abandoned and know YOU will do a better job.

  • @SubTroppo
    @SubTroppo Год назад +3

    How about the roads etc which the US military built in Australia for the war effort. psThose Japanese WW2 jet fighters are not on my radar (threat to Aleutians).

  • @deeacosta2734
    @deeacosta2734 Год назад

    Yes. I knew.

  • @Seawitch907
    @Seawitch907 Год назад

    Ketchikan gets more rain.

  • @gdnh
    @gdnh Год назад +1

    Calling something from the 20th century too historic to pull down is a little funny you have to admit. It's not that historic.

  • @dindog22
    @dindog22 Год назад

    is it Whittier or Whitner because you're calling it both

  • @musewinter9369
    @musewinter9369 Год назад

    -stares at- will you please call the city before you try to say its name? This isn't an uncommon problem, especially with alaskan or other native names. We will really love to help you pronounce it. Also, the tunnel is a combo train and car tunnel, done by timing and with smogs cleared by jet engines.

  • @CologneCarter
    @CologneCarter Год назад +14

    I'm not sure I trust a report/documentary on something you don't even know how to spell. I'm German and I have no connection to that place nor have I ever been there. Yet I know it is Whittier not Wittner or Witter.

    • @Lucky7tattooNettahoe
      @Lucky7tattooNettahoe Год назад +9

      That was really not necessary. Even with the little cute emoji to buffer your "little snub"

    • @denali9449
      @denali9449 Год назад +6

      There are ways to provide corrective information without coming across as a total jerk. So glad you know the correct spelling.

    • @johnmunsen7459
      @johnmunsen7459 Год назад +2

      I kinda agree with you. He was pronouncing it that way too and it was annoying to me. I drove through the tunnel there in 2020 and hiked over to the portage glacier. It was foggy and rainy when I was there.

    • @sethleger6105
      @sethleger6105 Год назад

      Whatever German you lost

  • @theicemanmypass
    @theicemanmypass 9 месяцев назад

    Everybody lives in one place because only 2 people own the land the railroad company owns the majority of the land and the military owns or used to own the 2 large buildings 1 of them has sat abandoned for many years the city still trying to work out the plans of redeveloping it a former military housing building just before the tunnel

    • @theicemanmypass
      @theicemanmypass 9 месяцев назад

      The city and the town the state have wanted to restore the military complex building for many years now the problem is that in its current condition it really isn't worth restoring it is completely rotted out on the inside However given Alaska's housing population crisis in the fact that they don't have anywhere else they can build there because like I said the railroad company and the government-owned all the land They've managed to raise significant funds to start renovations for some parts of the building so it could be used again in a multi-use setting preferably mainly for residential use but they haven't even started construction yet still working on raising funds and they have made a substantial amount

  • @sebert1
    @sebert1 Год назад +1

    Witner? You mean Whittier I think

  • @chrisaguilera1564
    @chrisaguilera1564 Год назад +7

    It's Whittier not Wittner.

  • @monteengel461
    @monteengel461 Год назад +1

    Whit/I/er, not Whitner.

  • @RCAtlanta
    @RCAtlanta Год назад

    Whittier or Whittner? Sounds like you keep saying the latter.

  • @paulsuprono7225
    @paulsuprono7225 Год назад +1

    Discovering America, in the EXTREMES ! 😂 🇺🇲 🤔

  • @danstarr9895
    @danstarr9895 Год назад +1

    Are you trying to say Whittier?

  • @kenkloiber2989
    @kenkloiber2989 Год назад

    Who takes spray paint way out there?

  • @oliverharris7366
    @oliverharris7366 Год назад

    Iooks like a hell hole to me.

  • @MsCriticalthinker201
    @MsCriticalthinker201 Год назад

    John Greenleaf Whittier

  • @TampaTyphoon
    @TampaTyphoon 5 дней назад

    Long drawn out history of the building construction lol nothing about how it is now, other videos give much better look into this place

  • @westjkl9064
    @westjkl9064 Год назад

    Whittier not Whittner

  • @billzumwalt324
    @billzumwalt324 Год назад +1

    Sea ward ? You really need to do more homework.

  • @KyleKlabunde
    @KyleKlabunde Год назад

    you mean Whittier

  • @Tony-1950
    @Tony-1950 Год назад

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • @thehighpointsofthestatesan9937

    It's Whittier 🤣

  • @DanKirchner5150
    @DanKirchner5150 Год назад

    ewww "mildew" !!

  • @archstanton_live
    @archstanton_live Год назад +1

    Nature bats last. All human endeavors will collapse.

  • @onrr1726
    @onrr1726 Год назад +1

    You forget to mention that the railroad owns most of the land giveing reason to lack of houses in town to which is why everyone lives in one building. This was brought up by a few people who have gained access to the main building where all the residence live many are not to fond of tourists being in there or takeing photoes or video eaither.

  • @jimbendtsen8841
    @jimbendtsen8841 Год назад

    Punctuation in the scrolling text would be helpful.