Abandoned Military Base Turned City | Largest Building in Alaska | Destination Adventure.
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2022
- Entering the Buckner building is trespassing and will result in criminal charges. Any damages caused by entering the premises will result in additional criminal charges and civil liability. This building has not been maintained since it was abandoned by the military and contains numerous physical and environmental hazards.
Whittier Alaska, is a strange place with a bit of a strange story. This beautiful little coastal town is home to less than 300 residents, is accessible by boat or through a train tunnel, and most of what remains is remnants of an abandoned cold war military base. When the military abandoned this location, 35 civilians stayed behind to attempt to keep life going as they knew it. Since this town was built as a military base, there are no houses and these is only 97 acres of usable land, most of which owned by the railroad. The only place for the residents to live was the 14 floor apartment building, and they soon formulated a plan to buy it from the Government. 60 years has gone by since that time, and not much has changes in Whittier. The population has grown a lot, but still isn't enough to even fill the apartment building. Most of the other cold war era buildings have been repurposed into stores and businesses, but the largest of them all, the Buckner Building, remains abandoned. This 5 story building has been known since its construction as the "City Under One Roof" because it quite literally had everything a city has. From accommodation to entertainment, the Buckner had it all, and I was able to identify most of the recorded amenities. I was able to find my way to the bowling alley, jail, mess hall, multiple kitchens, shooting range, theatre and much more. To top it all off, I get to share it with all of you.
I want to give a big thank you to Brenda and Dave for their time and information. I also want to give a great big thank you as always to my wonderful Patrons. This channel is my full time job, and it is only possible because of my supporters. If you enjoy this channel, please consider supporting on Patreon: / destinationadventure
Or take a look at the Merch line: destinationmerch.com/
I could listen to Brenda all day, she’s a natural storyteller who knows her town better than anyone
I’m a roofer, those roofs originally had drains. Long since no longer working. They may have actually contained the water for use but drains are common here in Florida . A lot of roofs have parapet walls so the water doesn’t run down the outside of the building. In this case it proved to be detrimental. Always watching from Panama City Florida, USA. 🇺🇸. No Snow Just Breeze !
Great video as always.
I am thinking these must be a"pitch " roof, a natural form of low melt melt meant to be perfectly flat otherwise the pitch would run downhill. It used to be a government spec for roofs.Lloyd , roofer 38 years now.
Yes I’m from South Florida where it rains hard and a lot. A lot of roofs are flat with drains and overflow scuppers. When they pour the lightweight concrete ( zonolite), they pitch it to the drains and if they get clogged the water will go through the overflows. I know the type of tar you’re talking about but with those parapet walls the water had to go somewhere. We have two types of low melting point tar, pitch made with creosote and another kind that just has a low melting point. We used them on schools and government buildings. We also did a lot of base work (Armed Forces). I was in Roofers Union Local #57, we had a three year apprenticeship program. We learned all types of built up roofs. Towards the end of my career we were putting a lot of rubber roofs and some torch on applications but they didn’t hold up very good in South Florida. They might have improved by now. I had to stop working in 1991 when I got run over by a boat. The prop got me from under my left arm, down my back, my left hip and took off my left foot. After I painted and repaired roofs, and wood work. I’m retired now in Panama City Florida.
Not going to lie, I was waiting for those zombie things from that movie “I Am Legend” to appear around every corner in that building.
Definitely a post-apocalyptic feel to the place!
@@drewping2002 you guys are always saying stuff like that. Seemed chill.
@@CANControlGRAFFITI it's just something about Cold War era ruins.
SAMEEEEE
Thank you for always allowing your guests to speak, uninterrupted. The Mayor and Brenda seem like good, wholesome people who truly love their town. How unfortunate that other residents can't purchase land/property there, though.
Wonderfully executed adventure!
That building has so many problems but luckily Senator Lisa Murkowski will look into fixing those issues that seafood company isn't a good place to work
My father's first duty station was there
Senator Lisa Murkowski has always put Alaska first when she said she will look into the problems with Begich Towers you know things will get done ok asbestos was installed by Department of Defense and since DoD sold those properties at a steep discount doesn't let DoD off the hook for dangerous issues with said properties DoD should clean those buildings up at no charge to the city of Whittier or its people what ever the problems are DoD must address and fix it asbestos and plumbing and electrical repairs so let's all pull together and ask Senator Lisa Murkowski to make it happen the safety and well-being of the Citizens of Whittier is all important and it shouldn't stop at Begich Towers as we all know DoD did buried toxins in the soil there as they did in Gamble Alaska and DoD had to clean those sites up at great cost Whittier shouldn't have to pay the price over past neglect DoD did in the very fine city of Whittier let's get State Representatives involved as well the louder we scream the faster the work will get done let's make noise Whittier and be very loud and respectful about it
@@sophiaanderson6631 Are you a resident of Whittier, or just someone who knows what's going on there?
See my comments
The people of Alaska are a different breed.
Your interviews of the locals gives a refreshing look at life in the places you visit. It's a very unique experience for the viewers and one more thing that makes this channel special.
Thanks for letting me adventure vicariously Dustin.
I KNOW this is gonna be 30 minutes of being glued to my screen!☺️
Seems like a nice little town, but I'm not living in a housing project.
Tear it down and reclaim the land!! The town would definitely be an awesome destination and adventure. Thats a true hidden gem with unlocked potential..
Dustin, you are so much more than a CZcamsr. You are a true filmmaker and storyteller. Well done, sir, well done! 👏 Thank you for sharing your adventures. I may never visit these places, but I can do so vicariously through your videos.
@16:00 looks to me like a loading dock, but I could be wrong.
Thank you very much. I never have been a fan of the term “CZcamsr”.
@@Destination_Adventure fair point. That term makes me think of "influencers" which, in my opinion, does not describe you.
I was up there in '01, and poked around in the old building. It made me nervous back then (falling debris, etc.)! The locals took a while to warm up to us, but we really enjoyed talking to them! So glad to see and hear more of Whittier! Thank you!
I love your introductions with locals. Makes it about the community and not you. So rare. Keep up the awesome work.
In case u wanna know...
Flat roofs are for the ease of installing equipment on, i.e. generator, air conditioner, etc, and it's much safer to walk on them when necessary, plus they're cheaper.
They're built with a drainage system, and when maintained there's no water build up or problem with that.
I was hoping u would find, and unplug the drainage holes, to have fun watching all the water gush off the roof.
Another good vid, Justin.
Wow Dustin, that first half felt like a documentary! You are a documentary filmmaker!
Amazing old building, thanks for the tour through. I find it amazing that it was said no young people were living there, at one time and the population is so small. But I can not believe all the graffiti throughout the entire building being so isolated. Enjoy your trip we sure do
Thanks again for the adventure D👍, that new light is the bomb also😎
The little bit of history at the beginning, was the best part imo !
Awesome video, and a great look at the not so distant past. . . . that being said I noticed on a few of the pipes still had the old insulation on them.The buildings, especially military buildings back in that time frame had tons of asbestos . . . . .be safe
Lived in Alaska for 9 years. Explored the old base in Whittier one day and had a blast!
The gaps between the building sections are seismic separation joints, built into the building due to the seismicly active nature of the location. Over time and without maintenance, seismic activity and water intrusion have caused the foundations to shift enough the increase the gaps between the building sections.
As for the flat roofs, I'm pretty sure they installed roof drains, but by now they are blocked solid. It's amazing to see what nature does to construction when maintenance ceases. Only 50-60 years and it looks like an archeological site.
Thank you Dustin
🇨🇦❤️🙏🏻
Very cool
The Buckner Building has a real "Alien meets Silent Hill" vibe. Made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It definitely appears to be well past the state where rehab is possible. Great video Uncle D!
Really put me in mind of Fallout, especially Fallout 4. Almost wanted to start looking for stuff to scrap... LOL
It can be restored but being 270,000 square feet it would be a big financial investment.
Amazing cinematography, the intro was captivating. You did a great job telling the story of Whittier through its residence. It is a truly unique place with a lesser known history. We've been curious to see how the Buckner Building looks inside since we first laid eyes on it and, although hours could be spent exploring its endless maze of passages, I felt you provided an excellent tour. Thanks for taking the time to create the inspiring content that you do and to share it with us eager viewers who enjoy following along on the adventure. Safe travels!
I started to get that feeling like this was the beginning of a horror movie when he was in the bowling alley & in that tunnel, reminded me of a movie but can't think which one.
very interesting... it's beautiful there.. kinda reminds me of Rupert. Sending loads of love and white light energy for your safety.
Wow..... what an incredible place. Such a shame that building is so far gone. Excellent adventure Dustin. Thanks for sharing.
I love the interviews you entwine throughout these videos.
Crazy to think they spent 2 years building that place, for a shelf life of just 5 years. Given the conditions there, 70 years onwards it is still standing.
Happy and safe travels Dustin.
Thank you
Scary old building, there is no way I would have went in there alone.
Nice 👍
Really enjoy the conversations you have with the people you meet during your adventures.
Wow ,now that's a piece of history monument or eyesore . What do u do,mmmmmm thanks Dustin .Always interesting
This reminds me so much of my days exploring the abandoned buildings of Detroit.
I really enjoy your abandoned building explorations - this was a great one.
It’s not a leg press. I think it’s an old X-ray setup. You were looking at the table where someone would lay. Keep up the great work. I really enjoy traveling the country with you.
You make it look so easy
The sheer quality of your videos is astounding. The amount of work and time you put into your content is incredibly impressive. Every single one is a pleasure to watch. Thank you for sharing your skills with us by producing such wonderful art and entertainment.
Dustin I always watching your adventures. Have a blessed filled day.
I grew up in Anchorage from 8 to 21 yo, and spent the summer of 1970 (I was 15) with my best friend in Whittier squeezing eggs out of rotted herring, as well as Halibut fishing (we pulled up a dead whale shark in our skate!). A weird time! When winter started, someone let me stay in their rustic cabin 10 miles out of town on the Portage highway, so I hitchhiked out to it, and I got snowed in for a week. At least I got the oil heater working and thawed the place out. Then, being entirely alone and without electricity or anything entertaining, I went nuts and would dance around squeezing an old pirate accordion I found laying around. I finally dug my way out through 5 foot tall snow drifts to the road, and hitchhiked into town for coffee at a cafe. Best coffee ever! In the Google street views, nothing really looks like it did back in 1970, but I suppose there have been a lot of changes per the highway and cruise lines. My friend and I had heard of mysterious (and dangerous) abandoned military tunnels, but we never got a chance to explore. I can find no mention of those. Are they really a thing?
Your brave going down that tunnel. But that all pretty cool thank you for sharing
Wonderful video...came across it when I was researching the Buckner Building. My hubby and I rode our motorcycles to Alaska from Pennsylvania this past summer and we rode through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel for a quick visit to Whittier. Interesting history. Thank you! 💜💜💜💜
What an absolutely beautiful place I love places like that just small town charm thank you for showing all of us always enjoy your adventures take care
Excellent.
There is so much history in that little town. Thank you for sharing this and all of your adventures with all of us.
I pray blessings over you and yours, and whatever you do, do it with your whole heart ❤
I was looking forward to seeing you film the Buckner! I saw it on the Discovery Channel "Mysteries of the Abandoned" and last episode when you said you were arriving in Whittier, I just knew you were going there! Absolutely did not disappoint! Awesome video, Dustin!
Thank you very much
Awesome, yet again! Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic job with this video Dustin, not only do you find such interesting stories like this but you bring it to your viewers in such an authentic way. Like many have said here, you’re a true filmmaker and you quickly became one of my favorite channels here on CZcams for a reason. Even going back deep into your archives since I found you a couple months ago, you’ve shown consistency the entire time and I can’t wait to see what you do next, not just weekly but way into the future. Even with how far you’ve come, even bigger success is in store for you my friend!
Honestly man this video and many of your videos are top quality film pieces. Your ability to tell a story by using locals, places of interest, scenary and the sound track is really a true talent. I'm not sure how much you make off CZcams but I honestly think with the quality of your work you could make out very well doing the tourist videos for towns or working in documentary film making if you wanted too. This short video within 5 minutes made me want to go to Whittier Alaska and it was never even on my radar before as a place I wanted to visit. You really have a skill for film making/ inadvertent advertising. Someone would pay you handsomely to do this work for them. If this is what you can do by yourself i can't imagine what you could produce with an entire team. Cheers and keep up the great content!
The government should be forced to clean that building up.
Great to hear the story of Whittier from the residents.
Dustin your eye for filming and editing is amazing!! Always awesome to watch your show. Thanks for showing us parts of the world most of us will never see. Really appreciate it.
Thank you very much
Thank you for sharing this cool location😊
Awesome walk through an old time capsule. Time has not been kind to that building. Your drone shots are absolutely awesome. Thanks again.
When you stepped out onto the water-covered roof I screamed, “NOOOOOO!!!” I wouldn’t have risked it. It is amazing though that somehow all those roofs were intact. If there were holes in them, the water wouldn’t pool so deep.
Oh my god! Are you ok? Did you survive watching it? Do we need to set up a GoFundMe for your PTSD?
Yeah, really good work this week. Your videography and interviewing is showing real growth. Good on you, dude!
Now that's the kind of place I want to live in
Thank you Dustin for once again taking me to a place I have never been!
Now that was an interesting video!! well done🙂
Thank you
and thanks for all your vidios
Fast forward 50-100 years and it will be falling and be a hazard (if not already). So the movement to preserve it would have to have the money to renovate and maintain it. It's amazing the roof is still holding and floors haven't totally collapsed. Tells you the quality of materials and craftsmanship.
Sad as it is, everything comes to an end at some point. It's crazy to think that's been abandon about the same age as my parents and I'm in my mid 40's lol
If it was utilized until 70-80s or so, then yeah maybe worth trying to keep but it might be time to say goodbye :(
As always, thanks for the content and keep them coming, you're doing fantastic work.
@ time stamp 21:00, I'm thinking it is a very old X-Ray table that may be able to tilt and do different X-ray views.
I see lots of comments saying X-Ray table. That’s a guess I never would have thought, so really cool to learn that.
What an amazingly maze-like adventure! Great video Bro, don't sweat the frame shudder!
Your uninterrupted interviews are priceless piece of footage and I feel like i'm privilege to see it. According to a 2016 study the building is full of asbestos, be safe Dustin! I really enjoyed watching all of your story this year specialy.
Wow, another ery informative and interesting adventure. Thank you. 😊
Some tense moments . Wonder if there are any photos of when the place was in it's prime...or even an interview with someone who lived there in that building. Amazing places you show us.!
Found your channel a few moths ago, and i absolutley love your stuff. I'm from Kamloops, nice to support an interior dude!
You hit it outta the park! Well done Dustin! You’ve e got a knack for documentaries! Loved your explore in the building afterwards. Felt like I “knew” the building before you went into it- compliments to your special guests!
Wow, that was fascinating. And incredibly well done. Thanks!
Great work sir thank you!!!!
Glad you were finally able to get some content from this place without the weather getting in the way.
This place looks like a great place to live tbh.
My stepdad, Terrence Milton Bailey, was a PFC in the Army and was stationed there at the Buckner builiding from 1953-1954.
Just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy watching your adventures. I hope you continue to post them on CZcams. Best wishes!!
Wow, that was really cool!
Dustin man that was another amazing video. Definitely never expected too see something like this thanks man🤘
Thank you
Loved this! Thanks
Visited there a few years ago with my family to take a glacier cruise. Talked with several of the folks working there and told them my husband and I met on Adak while we were in the Navy and really enjoyed our time there. They told us that we were far braver than they were bc at least they could drive out of Whittier where we were “stuck” on Adak. I would love to winter over in Whittier!
Fantastic Canadian content!
Great work Dustin!
Thank you
Awesome video buddy! It's great to see the interviews from locals to get the background on these places. So interesting!
Keep up the good work man i appreciate ur so down to earth and donr play up to the camera like some of the content makers do, so i gotta say thx for the entertainment 👍✌
🤔Hmm.. I see you threw Mick to the lobsters..🤣🤣
Fantastic explore.. And the back history from the locals helped fill in some of the details..
Stay safe Dustin..😁👍
I have officially binged every single video over the past week, and I'm willing to do it again. You are my favorite adventure content creator and I can't wait to follow your travels in real time. Looking forward to seeing all this for myself someday.
This is awesome, thank you so much. You’ve invested some serious time into the channel over the past week, and I think that’s so great. I hope I can bring content you will enjoy for years to come.
cool place and images
Sounds like a much nicer Whittier than the one I grew up in in Southern California
Very good video. Thank you.
Amazing
Wow that's changed a bit since I lived there about thirty five years ago
It's really infuriating that a place so remote and secluded has so much graffitis and vandalism!!!
Yeah, but I learned something new about why TRex are so mad today.
Great story and history ! Whoever sells spray paint in that town must be a millionaire 😂😂
Very interesting 👍
Great video
Lifelong Alaskans that’s explored WW II and Cold War military sites all over Alaskan. Been in the Buckner countless times and it’s my top 3 favorite sites in all of Alaska. The underground tunnels there are crazy
Movie theater is my favorite part too
Great stuff Dustin thanks
Very nice video
Great video.
The table you came across was an X-ray table.
That's what I was thinking...
Hello Dustin, just reading your bio on your merchant website, wow you are on a long road of adventures. If you ever visit Astoria, Oregon look up George Hill (hill auto body & towing) youtube channel. George tows people stuck in the surf and beaches along Oregon?Washington beaches and roads. He's been video himself for 12yrs. Thank You Dustin, your natural art of story telling is a gift from Above. PS, outside of Skykomish WA is a abandon railroad tunnel. Skykomish town has a lot of history. Wade lives across the street from the yellow Masonic building, and knows a lot of local history.
amazing footage as always!
Thank you
Another great Video Dustin. Interesting to hear the locals tell their stories and your drone shots were fabulous. I'm still hoping you make it to the Kenai Peninsula for some salmon fishing adventures.
Awesome place thanks
Very well done documentary !
Cool video
Bet it was a really cool place when it was lived in
Always a great film, Dustin! Your range of subjects and diversity of locations is so very well complimented by your honest, fun and respectful approach. Thanks so much, watching your journey is wonderful!
A question, is there any summary of the music played in your films? It's all good stuff that I'd like to find on a platform somewhere to purchase some. Maybe I can only catch the names after each film? Thanks in advance.
Calgary
great video. this is extremely well made.
Thank you