Buckner Building - Whittier, Alaska - A step back in time

This was the first of the major Whittier buildings. It is six stories high with two basement levels. It has over 270,000 square feet and, when first built, had housing for 1,000, as well as a cafeteria, theater, classrooms, radio station, jail, hospital, library, PX, and more -- it was rightly called "a city under one roof." However, it was totally abandoned when the Army left.

It has been abandoned for over 40 years and time has taken it's toll. The building itself is quite sturdy, the interior is another matter. When I went a couple of weekends ago there was still water everywhere, you can hear it dripping throughout the building. The ceilings are falling down as well as the light fixtures. Unfortunately, people have tagged the building and although some of the art work is nice, there are swear words, signs of the devil and witches, Marijuana, and various other sayings and symbols.

Vandals have broken anything and everythign that they could get their hands on. There were broken pieces of the sinks and toilets throughout the living quarters. It was a sad sight that a once impressive building is now in shambles. I have to say though, whomever did the tiling in the building, did a very good job because it is still on the walls and most of it is still on the floors.

Although there are reports that the building is haunted, I did not get any creepy feelings, nor did I see any ghosts.








It was an interesting place. I hope to explore it again before time and vandals take further toll on the building.

Rebecca





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