Alaskan Town That Lives In One Building - Isolated From The World 🇺🇸

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Oh my Peter, we have been walking around all day shaking our heads about this movie you made. I did wonder after a bit why you kept the camera rolling and asking so many questions! We thought your neighbors back home in Vermont would get really tired of this “ home movie.” You are such a dear heart, please come back to Whittier and visit us! I did not know you taped my prayer for you. It seems like it touched a lot of hearts. May the Lord bless and keep you.Jeanette and Joe

"I hope I find someone nice to show me around" finds the nicest woman in Alaska

“It takes a day to get married but it takes the rest of your life to stay married”. Wow. Very well said. So simple but it leaves such a deep meaning about a couple’s commitment to each other.

I lived in Anchorage for a few years. It forced you to be aware of your surroundings and to be mindful every time you opened your door to step outside. Could be a moose munching your flowers or a bear taking a tour. People living in Alaska realize how important community is and how interconnected we are. If you see a car stuck in the snow, you stop and help. It could be the difference between life and death. Having lived mainly in big cities, it forced me to think about things in a totally different way. I loved it!

When she said “it takes one day to get married, it takes the rest of your life to stay married” I felt that.

I spent the summer of 2008 hitchhiking with a backpack across Alaska. Camped along highways, national parks, urban areas, and occasionally staying with good people met by chance or on the road. I found myself in Whittier for a few days, near the end of my trip. I was cold and tired, my boots and gear soaked with rain from the day prior. I was not looking forward to setting up my tent in the forest just above the building in this video. A local near the harbor mentioned a large bear was seen in the immediate area I had planned to camp, which made sleeping in a wet sleeping bag below a glacier even more severe. I needed a dry place to think of an alternative plan and possibly hang dry my sleeping bag. This building was one of the few places in town to go and get out of the drizzling rain. I sat down in the front foyer where all the historical photos are (the chairs are now removed in this video). I was physically exhausted. I met a woman who invited me down a hallway to the sailor’s meeting/support room and offered me a plate of food. She was kind. Asked me about myself and soon thereafter she had coordinated with someone else in the building to find a place I could sleep for the night. A bunk bed in a small room filled with non-perishable food (I think the church used it to store food bank donations). They would not accept any payment or reciprocal exchange. I’d long forgotten her name and specific appearance, but Jeanette’s prayer with you at the end of this video pretty much confirms she was the kind person whom I met years ago. Remarkable to see this living memory virtually unchanged in 2022, and be reminded of that act of kindness all this time later. Thank you for this video Peter, and thank you Jeanette for helping a weary young traveller from Canada!

I went to Whittier as part of a tour with my Mum in July 1997. It was a Canada Alaska tour. We had an absolute blast. Every single stop was fascinating and we learned so much as well as had fun. Truly memory of a lifetime. At the end of our trip on our 13hr flight home we were quietly reminiscing and both mentioned that, out of all the places we’d been over the 6 weeks, we both really loved Whittier. We had covered so much territory but both loved Whittier and swore we’d return one day. My Mum died unexpectedly in January 1999. I saved up and took myself on exactly the same tour as I’d been on again in 2012. It was as though she was beside me the whole way, but was most obvious was in Whittier. Particularly travelling through the tunnel. I caught a whiff of her perfume. Probably psychosomatic but who knows… maybe she was on that second trip with me ❤

I am from Scotland and I want to thank you and the residents of Whittier for inviting us in to your homes and hearts. You are all amazing people to create a community that cares about each other so much. Bless you Jeanette & Joe ❤

Is anyone else amazed by the trust and love that these people have in this community?? This guy shows up completely out of no where and they are leading him through the halls, introducing him to loved ones, letting him in their homes!! So trusting and so pure <3 What a beautiful community <3

Her little prayer for Peter was one of the most moving and meaningful prayers I have heard in my 75 years on this planet and she is not even “a preacher.” Awesome, awesome, awesome lady. No “victimhood” here. A blessing.

this lady just cured my depression

I was so touched by Janette's prayer for you Peter Santenello (near the end). That was a beautiful prayer!!! And indeed, what an amazing community/city they have created and spiritual support for the workers on the ship. Really wonderful, thank you for going there and recording it.

When the husband says “I’m sorry, please forgive me, and thank you, I love you” that’s a reference to a Hawaiian proverb called ho’opono’pono. You can tell Hawaii means a lot to these two, their home is decorated just like it and the spirituality of Hawaii lives in them.

After 50 years they are still happy and joking around, so heartwarming to watch these two

Joe and Jeanette are just delightful people. Jeanette's prayer at the end was beautiful. This style of living honestly appeals a great deal to me.

What a unique scene. As Peter said, "somewhat isolated from so much of the world, but at the same time so connected under one roof." Beautiful people.

I'm from India and I have to say Jeanette is such a wonderful warm lady, that no matter how cold or isolated a place can be, amazing people like her can still make it feel welcoming and warm.

Jeannette and Joe are the two friends none of us knew we wanted. Whittier is lucky to have them.

Grew up in Anchorage, uncle used to work for the railroad and we would go to Whittier every now and then but as a kid you don’t pay much attention to your surroundings so to me that building always looked like an abandoned building, it’s so nice to see Alaskan people being shown for what they are, truly amazing and kind people. Thank you Peter