In this town, which is frequently mentioned, all people live in a single building. Moreover, services such as market, school, post office and hospital are also located in the apartment! There have been many interesting settlements throughout human history, but this is unusual.
The purpose of people living in a building called Begich Tower to settle here is actually very different. This building, which was established for a different purpose, became a home for the whole town after a certain time. It may not seem so illogical once you learn the story of this interesting building.
How did this building with everything from the church to the police station come into existence?
First of all, let’s talk about the region where it is located so that the stones fall into place. Located within the borders of the United States, this town was built during the Cold War. It can be said that it was a kind of precaution against the Soviet Union attacks that may come from Siberia.
Siberia was under the control of the Soviet Union. Since Alaska, where our town is located, is very close to Siberia, security in the region had to be ensured in the early 1950s. For this, a border post was built. OK, but this was an apartment; not the police station. Isn’t it?
When we go into the details, we see that this building, which was built as a border post, was responsible for the security of the region in the 1950s.
Begich Tower, which was started to be built in 1953 and completed in 1957, is located in a very strategic area. This structure, which was built so that all military personnel in the region could fit in, was also designed for harsh climatic conditions. We can think that it was built with the logic of today’s lodging.
While the conditions of the region were clear, the elements that could meet all the needs of the military personnel were placed inside the building. Even when the construction was finished, there were more than 500 soldiers inside.
By the 1960s, the US military decided to move military outposts in the Alaska region closer to Siberia.
This building, which was built in the early 1950s, started to lose its importance gradually. Over time, the army left the building. At that time, one of the most terrible earthquakes in the USA took place: On March 27, 1964, all the settlements in the region were destroyed.
The earthquake, which deeply affected many regions in the USA, especially in Alaska, was recorded as 9.2. None of the buildings in the area remained standing. However, this military structure, which was built in the 50s, was able to survive. The building, which was abandoned by the US army, was built resistant to attacks such as all kinds of missiles and bombs, so it did not suffer a single damage in the earthquake.
People who lost their homes in the earthquake moved to this building, which belongs to the army.
The government gave permission to move into this building to relieve the suffering of the people in the area. Thus, this building, which was built as a military structure, became a home to the townspeople.
Today, the people living here do not need to go anywhere. Market, police station and even school are inside the apartment. Indeed, this building, which may be one of the most interesting structures in history, has become a symbol of Alaska over time.
In 2016, the Alaska Government renovated the building. The renovation cost of the building consisting of 196 flats was almost 3 million dollars.
A few apartments of the building, which is located in a tourist area of the region, are also used as a hotel. The entire town, whose population has increased over time, has become accustomed to living in a single building and seems quite content with their situation. After all, if you wake up hours before to go to work and think that you don’t have any traffic problems, you just have to take the elevator and get off on the ground floor, it seems pretty enjoyable.
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