Last updated: October 2, 2026
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City of Whittier, Alaska
City of Whittier Archive
The City of Whittier, Alaska, developed rapidly as a World War II military town. This was due to its strategic location on a protected, ice-free, deep-water port in Prince William Sound. The city is on the Passage Canal, a fjord-like bay sheltered by mountains. This location allowed the military to ship supplies and personnel year-round to support US operations across the Territory of Alaska and the North Pacific.
When Whittier’s construction began, it was only accessible by water. Camp Sullivan was built first to aid with the logistics of managing a busy new port. Supplies to construct docks, railroad spurs, buildings, and other structures arrived via ships and barges on the canal.
The US Army Corps of Engineers worked with civilian laborers and professionals to construct new warehouses and other storage facilities. They also built housing and maintenance shops to support the port. Once opened, Camp Sullivan operated around the clock as a critical transfer point to send cargo and troops throughout the Territory of Alaska. To make this possible, the port needed a connection to Alaska’s inland transportation routes.
In 1941, construction began on a spur connecting the Port of Whittier to the Alaska Railroad. The Army blasted and drilled through solid rock to create a tunnel through Maynard Mountain, which became the town’s only land access. This allowed troops and supplies to move from the port of Whittier throughout the territory’s rail network. The tunnel’s completion was marked by a 1943 railroad commemorative monument that honors Whittier’s historic role as a World War II transportation hub.
The Port of Whittier is still in use. The 13,300-foot tunnel is the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America. It shows the significance of Whittier’s wartime construction. Most of the current residents of Whittier live in housing built for the military after World War II. These structures highlight military infrastructure as a continuing and defining feature of daily life and local identity.
The city has a museum with exhibits focused on World War II. Historical markers are also placed near World War II structures that commemorate the war years. The Navy chose Whittier as the site for commissioning the USS Ted Stevens on October 3, 2026, in recognition of its historic association with the US military.