He, bar owner Elaine McMillian and Abeyta and Dan Hankins from Exploding Whale Beach Camp have arranged for a community memorial for the blasted cetacean. In November 1970, an 8-ton sperm whale managed to beach itself just off the Oregon coast. "We considered doing an event for the anniversary, but we stepped away from it," Hannigan said. So they moved the spectators back up the beach, put a half-ton of dynamite next to the whale and set it off. The Oregon Highway Division had decided the best way to remove the dead 8-ton sperm whale that had washed up ashore was to stuff it with 24 cases of dynamite … Thanks for contacting us. A stinking whale carcass, a half ton of dynamite and an immortal local TV newscast — half a century later and the world is still in love with Florence's most infamous moment. 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On Nov. 12, 1970, Linnman and his cameraman Doug Brazil were just 23 when they were assigned to capture the blubber blast on a beach in Florence, Ore. Authorities somehow thought using dynamite was the best way to dispose of the deceased sperm whale. "It will never die in this town.". The humor found in a rain of blubber chunks isn't everyone's taste, not even in Florence. You're signed out. According to a 1990 Washington Post article, the whale was 45 feet long and weighed eight tons. It's the kind of branding McMillian said memorializes her hometown's history. 443,121, This story has been shared 415,977 times. The exploding whale is not a part of the official Florence tourism strategy, said Florence Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bettina Hannigan. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It's had a fan website for about that long. But many in the town of 9,000 west of Eugene celebrate the exploding whale for its supreme absurdity, some turning their morbid fascination into business while others honor its relics as pieces of history. We will continue to try to capitalize on it.". "It's worked well for marketing, and it's worked well for our hearts because it's light and lively and funny.". The Oregon State Highway Division on Nov. 12, 1970, decided it would rid a beach near Florence of the washed-up sperm whale smelling up the town by blowing the corpse to smithereens. ...a half-ton of dynamite was detonated under an 8-ton beached whale… If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. In November 1970, the town of Florence, Oregon decided to blow up an 8-ton whale carcass that had washed up on the beach. Instead they blew it up, using 20 cases of dynamite… Gunderson is responsible for Flo and Rence, two whale costumes serving as something of unofficial mascots for the history of the exploding whale. Exploding Whale Memorial Park in Oregon commemorates a gory 1970 attempt to remove a whale carcass and is now open to the public. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the exploding beached whale incident that took place in Florence, Oregon on November 12, 1970 when highway patrol used way too much dynamite to remove a whale carcass. The idea was that the rotting whale would be nearly disintegrated by the blast, and that any smaller pieces left over would be taken care of by seagulls or other scavengers. Gunderson has exactly the opposite philosophy. As Linnman’s deadpan segment covered, chunks of the sea creature flew in the air like shrapnel, sending screaming onlookers running and even flattening a car. © 2020 www.statesmanjournal.com. The huge chunks of bone are proudly displayed with many older pieces of local history. As it turns out, that was overkill. "People internationally are aware of the story, and we've had guests come from all over the country and the world to visit with us," said Terry Abeyta, who with her fiancé owns Exploding Whale Beach Camp in Florence near Heceta Beach. The 75 or so people who had gathered on the shore just south of Florence, Oregon, on November 12, 1970 stood at a safe distance and waited for … The festivities' location comes with exclusive access to Homegrown's Exploding Whale Pale Ale. to dispose of a beached whale with a result that seems predictable in hindsight: chunks of whale absolutely everywhere. KATU/YouTube Reporter Paul Linnman stands in front of the carcass that’s about to be detonated in Oregon’s infamous exploding whale incident of 1970. Tap to unmute. On the 50th anniversary of the “Florence whale explosion” Thursday, a former Oregon TV newsman recalled what it was like to cover the infamous event — where authorities used half a ton of dynamite to blow up a beached whale. Your Ad Choices There have been several cases of whale carcasses bursting due to a buildup of gas in the decomposition process. Nov. 12, 1970 is an auspicious day in Oregon history. On November 9, 1970, a 14 meter-long, 7,300 kg sperm whale washed up on the central Oregon coast. It's just hysterical, especially this year," said Florence resident Ed Gunderson, who, just so you know, owns an exploding whale costume. Mammalian marine guts spewed everywhere, raining down on townsfolk. We've received your submission. In what was called a "controlled explosion," they used a … The weirdness of the exploding whale might suit the humor of younger generations, Hannigan said, but many of the residents alive at the time look back on the episode as an embarrassment. Privacy Notice And so 50 years ago today, a half-ton of dynamite was detonated under an 8-ton beached whale. “I was asked about it virtually every day of my life, or commented on it, by everybody, strangers alike,” Paul Linnman told KATU-TV in Portland. So I guess this "exploding whale" was a well-known incident, but I have never heard about it or seen the footage. The Oregon Highway Division had the bright idea of exploding the whale using 450 kg of dynamite. This story has been shared 443,121 times. Harkening to the festive altars associated with celebrating Día de los Muertos, they hope the community joins in creating a public display of local love for the exploding whale. All rights reserved. Your California Privacy Rights But 50 years ago, the highway patrol in Oregon decided to use a HALF-TON OF DYNAMITE to remove the dead body of an 8-ton beached whale. As crews loaded up the sperm whale with dynamite, another famous Oregon figure entered the world. Claim: In 1970, the Oregon Department of Transportation attempted to dispose of a whale carcass by blowing it up. "Tourism is a major contributor and a major part of our economy here," Henry said. "I think it's so quirky that it should be celebrated.". Flo is a smiling, unexploded whale. A successful, non-pandemic weekend in Florence can include more than 20,000 visitors enjoying its beaches, restaurants and attractions, Henry said. Though the 113th Rhododendron Festival this year was canceled, organizers themed the event "Blast from the Past" and adding to its logo a whale (unexploded) spouting rhododendrons. "It was, of course, a big faux pas.". With impeccable storytelling and every moment on camera, Linnman's tongue-in-cheek reporting is the reason the story lives to this day. Drunk duo survives falling down shaft, Braunwyn Windham-Burke shares first photo with girlfriend after coming out. Terms of Use On November 12, 1970, the good people of Florence, Oregon came together to address the issue of a beached grey whale that was apparently too big to be removed with any method other than dynamite explosion. I like the fact that we can use it in our town for marketing," McMillian said. No place else can claim the exploding whale, and Henry said that unique brand does bring some folks to town. The whale explosion footage gained national fame in the 1990s, and received renewed attention on YouTube, becoming a viral hit. Florence is more and more embracing its bizarre history. SEATTLE — Fifty years ago on Nov. 12, a piece of bizarre Pacific Northwest history was born – the exploding whale. Today, November 12, 2019, marks the 49th anniversary of KATU's infamous whale explosion. "It was probably a once in a lifetime thing," Zinn said. Rence is decidedly less happy and, with Xs in place of eyes, definitively dead. The idea was that rotting whale would be … However, the demolition team used too much explosives (a half-ton of dynamite) and the blast sent 8 tons of whale … The debacle is the stuff of local legends, but this one is known worldwide. "It's fun with tongue-in-cheek humor that makes it a positive for our community.". It is the day Tonya Harding was born in Portland and the day, on the Oregon coast, engineers decided to use dynamite to remove a … This whale memorial is total blast. The explo… "People can come throughout the day on their own and place a memento or a poem or something on the altar.". There are no dead whales or sticks of dynamite on hand, although the park does have a smiling sperm whale mascot (whom you can’t blow up). A quarter-mile away, cars were smashed with chunks of cetacean carcass. Officials were flummoxed — how do you bury an 8-ton titan? "It's the only thing that anyone knows about Florence, but everyone in the world knows about what we did," Gunderson said. And a recent mayoral proclamation made this November "the month to memorialize the Exploding Whale. Infamous Exploding Whale News Clip Gets Remastered in 4K for Its 50th Anniversary . Though he remembers hearing about the incident when it happened, Barry's column cemented his enduring love for the exploding whale — and he's doing his part to spread that love. November 12, 2020 | 10:35pm | Updated November 13, 2020 | 9:27am. It was purchased by the city in recent years and refurbished last year with numerous new features. So we decided on a community participatory altar," Abeyta said. Shopping. It’s one of those real-life stories that just sounds too strange to be real. "We wanted to do a memorial to the whale and not let the virus take that away.