The Buckner building is an abandoned previous U.S. Military building in Whittier, Alaska. Situated at the western edge of Prince William Sound, the building was built by the United States Corps of Engineers in 1953. The Buckner Building was abandoned and is currently owned by the City of Whittier.

History of Buckner Building

General Simon Buckner, who was in charge of Alaska's defense at the start of World War II, had a premonition of airstrikes that they were not prepared for. As a result, the general devised the plan to construct a facility that would be independent of the local power plant, airstrike proof, and have enough storage space for their military supply. Whittier proved to be the best fit after many difficult decisions because it had deep-water, ice-free ports, constant cloud cover that protected them from airstrikes, and all-weather roads that would come in handy when supplying military equipment. That is how a housing and recreational facility for the troops was approved and assigned to the United States Army Corps. It was finished by 1953 complete with a mess hall for eating, a movie theater, sleeping quarters, a small jail, and a small tunnel that linked the building to Whittier, Alaska. Buckner building was the only building left standing after an earthquake turned Alaska upside down.

The decline of Buckner building

The building was operational for 13 years until 1966 when the military ceased their operations and pulled out. The building was seen to be obsolete after the world war was over. There was no significance in its continued operation. Just like that, the building was abandoned and all the valuables including the windows and doors were taken out. After the desertion, the building changed hands severally with all the new owners seeing potential in the rejected building. 

Peter Zamarillo, who was the first owner of the building after it was abandoned, bought the building to turn it into a state prison. He was unable to convince the state of Alaska, lacking approval to go on with the plan. Once again, the building was abandoned and left to vandals to continue depriving it of its beauty. In 1972, some locals from the city purchased the building with plans of reviving it into a complex business district but this too never came to fruition.

Buckner building Today

Today, the building still stands but in complete ruin. Graffiti covers most of the still-standing walls making it the largest eyesore of Whittier City. A survey conducted showed that the building deteriorated beyond repair. As it waits for demolition, the building has been fenced with no trespassing signs hung every inch of the fence. No one is allowed to explore the building.