The Strangest Town in Alaska The History of Whittier, Alaska and the Portage Valley

The little town of Whittier lies only 3 miles from Alaska's most-visited tourist destination, Portage Glacier, yet it remains relatively unknown. Mountains four thousand feet tall, glaciers and lakes separate Whittier from the rest of Alaska, and until recently, the only way to reach the small port city was by rail, by sea, or by air (in very small planes only).