I’ve spent a lot of time this winter at home taking care of family and school obligations and wanted to get out with my camera last weekend. We decided to take the family for a drive and head to Whittier. Along the way the Seward Highway passes the remains of the town of Portage. Portage was destroyed by the Good Friday Earthquake in 1964. That earthquake was the third largest in US history with a magnitude of 9.2. It’s effects were felt as far away as Hawaii and Florida (where an artesian aquifer doubled its daily water production about an hour after the quake hit).

Portage was a small town about 50 miles south of Anchorage, about 40 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. It had a population of about 100 people in the early 1960’s. When the earthquake hit, the land under the town dropped between 6 and 12 feet which placed the town at sea level on the banks of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. High tides and mud inundated the town and it had to be abandoned.

During the past 50 years the buildings that survived in some fashion have been left to return to nature. Many have already collapsed and disappeared from view. But, there are a few that are still standing, at least a little bit. I’ve always wanted to stop and photograph these buildings, but I’ve never had time or a good view. Many bushes have grown up and surround the remaining buildings and when they are covered with leaves they obscure the view. Additionally, water and mud fill the area, so it’s not practical to walk around and explore.

On Sunday though, I had time to stop. Better yet, the leaves haven’t come out on the bushes yet, so I had a view of the town. I had a great time (on the edge of the highway) capturing some shots of the buildings and the top of an old rusted truck that was parked next to a neat house with some green shingles still on the roof.