The Boomer Bus: Post 07-09-2014 Wittier Museum and Surrounding Area

Post 7-9-2014 Whittier Museum and Surrounding Area

Yesterday we drove around to see what else there was to do in Whittier. We started with the museum to read about the area's WWII's history, about the construction of the tunnel, reconstruction of the tunnel, mining and the people.

I was not aware that Jimmy Doolittle, the famous B-25 Bomber Pilot spent his youth's days in Alaska. I have read and watched movies about him,, especially "12 Seconds over Tokyo". His flying ability reflects the patriot that he was. Having served aboard aircraft carriers, I'm amazed at how they were able to get airborne from such a short deck. Especially since there were no catapults on carriers (they weren't invented yet) and they had to do a deck run. The ship must have been operating at 35 knots or more in able to get enough wind down the deck. They don't publish maximum speeds a carrier can do, but I do know it's 45+MPH. Below, I've just posted photos and will make a few comments about some of them.

Stately lodge

Notice the aging timbers under the track. Still in heavy use

Arrow points toward mountain. Yep, that's where I would go--up the mountain

Government built this building as an officer complex(above and below). It had rooms, family suites, dining room, bowling alley, swimming pool, everything they and family needed. Enlisted had nothing but a barracks building that had rooms for four occupants. this bldg was sold to a private company

but when they started to tear it down they couldn't due to it being full of asbestos material. Now it's an albatross.

This was the enlisted barracks built during the same time frame. It has been modified and updated and is now used for all the temp workers that come up in the Summer months.