The Strange Tale of the Exploding Whale in Oregon, 1970

In November 1970, a sperm whale approximately 45 feet long and weighing around eight tons washed ashore near Florence, Oregon. The massive carcass quickly became problematic as it began decomposing, emitting an unbearable stench that affected both residents and tourists. Local authorities faced a significant challenge in determining how to dispose of this giant heap of decaying flesh.

The Decision

The responsibility for removing the whale fell to George Thornton, an engineer at the Oregon Highway Division (now known as the Oregon Department of Transportation). After evaluating various disposal methods—such as burying or cutting up the carcass—Thornton decided that using dynamite would be the most effective solution. His rationale was simple: by blowing up the whale into tiny pieces, scavengers like seagulls and crabs would quickly dispose of them.

The Explosion

Thornton and his team set about their explosive task on November 12, 1970, with crowds gathered at a safe distance and news cameras rolling. They buried around half a ton (20 cases) of dynamite underneath one side of the whale. The idea was that this blast would propel all parts into the ocean—or so they hoped.

The detonation itself was dramatic. A brief flash followed by an ear-splitting boom shattered any semblance of normalcy along the beach. However, huge chunks were flung far beyond expectations instead of disintegrating into small pieces manageable by scavengers or swept away by tides. One large piece crushed a car parked over a quarter-mile from ground zero!

Aftermath

The explosion did not achieve its intended outcome. Instead of being scattered into small fragments easily consumed by wildlife, large portions of fat rained down on spectators and nearby properties. This unexpected result led to further cleanup efforts that were more labor-intensive than initially anticipated.

Residents and media outlets quickly criticized the decision-making process behind using dynamite for such a task. Despite these criticisms, the incident has since become a part of local folklore and is often cited as an example of human ingenuity gone awry.

Legacy

The exploding whale incident remains one of the most bizarre episodes in Oregon’s history. It is a cautionary tale about underestimating nature’s unpredictability and overestimating human problem-solving capabilities. Over time, it has gained international attention through news reports, documentaries, and even comedic retellings.

Today is both a humorous anecdote and a sobering reminder: sometimes solutions can create more significant problems than those they aim to solve.