Begich Towers, Residential condominium in Whittier, Alaska.
Begich Towers is a 14-story residential building with three connected modules in Whittier, Alaska, where nearly all the town's residents live. The ground and lower floors hold shops, offices, and community facilities, while the upper floors contain apartments.
The building was completed in 1953 for the US Army Corps of Engineers and served as a garrison for military personnel. After the military withdrew, it converted to civilian housing in the 1960s.
The tower takes its name from Nick Begich, an Alaska congressman who disappeared near here in 1972. Residents move through long interior hallways to reach apartments, shops, and shared spaces without stepping outside.
Access to the town involves passing through a single-lane tunnel that opens on a schedule for vehicles. Visitors who want to view the building from outside can walk along the street past the harbor and see the concrete tower from different angles.
Most residents reach the school directly through a covered passageway, so children can get to class dry and safe even during snowstorms. On some winter days, the snow piles so high that the entrances need clearing several times a day.
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