A city of stark contrast, drab concrete buildings nestled within the beauty of Prince William Sound. W hittier sits at a fascinating historical crossroads, traveled for hundreds of years by natives, traders, explorers, gold rushers, the U.S. military, and now visitors from all over the world. The area surrounding Whittier and Portage pass had significant roles in the expansion of Russian America, the Alaskan Gold Rush, World War II, and the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964. The Strangest Town in Alaska chronicles the events that shaped Whittier and Portage Valley, and looks ahead toward new events that hold great promise, including a unique road system that has only now opened the doors to Whittier. Find out how and where here .
R ead a short bit of a sample chapter .
The first pages of Chapter 4 of The Strangest Town in Alaska . V iew a sample of historic images . Some from the book, others are exclusively on the web. V isit Whittier, virtually. Use our collection of Whittier websites to find out more about the region, book trips and tours, or just explore for fun.