55 Years of 'Happy Exploding Whale Day' Celebrated in Oregon Coast's Florence

Published 11/11/25 at 7:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Florence, Oregon) - November 12, 1970 is a day that will live in infamy around the world. It's probably where more of Earth's population have gotten a hint the Oregon coast exists than anywhere else. On that day, state officials attempted to dispose of a dead whale on the beach near the north end of Florence by detonating it. The goal was to eliminate the carcass and its odor.

That date is once again upon us: the 55th anniversary of Florence's Exploding Whale.

This year, even though it's kind of a big number, the celebration remains a bit more low key. It happens on Sunday, November 16th at Homegrown Public House & Brewery in Florence. It runs from noon to about 3 p.m. or so. See https://www.xplodingwhale.com/

The history of the whale is a bit “explosive” itself.

Starting with the deed on the beach: in a word the attempt backfired. More like....fired upwards. Whale remains and bloody goo rained down across the area, coating spectators and vehicles hundreds of feet away. People ran and scattered. A large chunk of the whale flew through the air and wrecked a car.

Exploding Whale Park in Florence

The bizarre incident was captured on film and, decades later, became a viral sensation. The TV news report resurfaced in the 1990s as the internet gained traction, quickly becoming the most watched clip online and holding that record for than ten years.

Even before that, humorist Dave Barry had written about the event in the 1980s, introducing the story to a new generation. But it was the internet in the mid-1990s that truly launched the tale into global notoriety.

Around that time, Eugene resident Steve Hackenstadt launched theexplodingwhale.com, a website that immediately hit the ground running. With that fame came strange reactions: some accused Hackenstadt of orchestrating the explosion or faking the footage. As he discovered, the internet can be a strange and sometimes hostile place, however humorous the content.

Still, Hackenstadt’s site became the hub of Exploding Whale lore, and by the 2000s, online communities began marking the anniversary with “happy exploding whale day” messages. By the 2010s, the phrase was even heard in Portland bars.

It's interesting to note: the film itself was very nearly lost just after the event. Footage had accidentally been left in Florence as anchorman and cameraman took off to fly back to Portland, but KATU-TV management somehow saw the worth of this capture and paid someone to drive it up from Florence.

Florence, for years, tried to distance itself from the incident, viewing it as a source of embarrassment. But in the 2010s, the town embraced its odd legacy, launching the annual Exploding Whale Memorial Celebration. The event gained traction, even inspiring a Eugene sports team to briefly adopt the name “Exploding Whales.”

Last year marked a new milestone: an official proclamation at Florence City Hall recognizing the day. There was even a large gathering to mark the occasion and some amount of worldwide press.

Elaine McMillan of Florence talked about with Oregon Coast Beach Connection a few years ago:

“We have a tiny committee of community members that find true joy in planning this affair,” McMillan said. “We feel that to remember something that went so wrong can make an ongoing positive difference in our small coastal community. The celebration brings levity during a darker, quieter time of year. Our exploding whale has become legendary world-wide and there have been countless reports of others learning from the plan gone wrong. So we consider this celebration cultural, historical and fun, which makes for sort of a magic trifecta!"

There's an Exploding Whale Park now as well.

See Wacky History of Exploding Whale

What is strangely unknown about this is that this wasn't the first time Oregon tried this approach. It happened back in the '30s near Astoria. See the article on the Warrenton Exploding Whale.

Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - - Where to eat - - Florence Oregon Virtual Tour, Map

 

Six Historic Inns of the Oregon Coast With a Strong Time Travel Vibe
Serious charm in Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Oceanside, Lincoln City, Newport. Logding reviews, hotels

Historic North Oregon Coast Inn Gets New Life as Off-the-Beaten-Path Forest G...
Nehalem River Inn is nearly 100 years but has a new look. Manzanita hotel reviews, Manzanita lodging

Manzanita Hotel Review: Oregon Coast Inn A New Hotel
Sitting quite a ways off the beaten path that is teensy Mohler and this highway, the Nehalem River Inn has returned. Now, at nearly 100 years old, the inn has gotten a new look and vibe. Nehalem Hotel Review

Rockaway Beach Hotel News: New Inn Near Rockaway Beach is Really 100 Years Old
Boutique inn and BnB on north Oregon coast features marvelous high-end details; bathroom vanities created by local craftsmen, headboards made of live edge wood. Pets. Rockaway Beach Hotel Reviews

 

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Oregon's Tillamook Coast Funds Major Upgrades, Facilities, Including Lighthouse Fix
Water tower for train ride, hiking trails, restrooms, more. Oceanside, Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, Pacific City, Nehalem, Manzanita

Beware Internet Rumors: Yes, N. Oregon Coast's Hug Point is Shut Down and Unsafe
To borrow from Monty Python: It has ceased to be. It is an ex-beach access. Safety, Cannon Beach, Manzanita

Flood Advisories, Warnings, Watches All Over Washington / Oregon Coast
Advisories, watches and warnings in various areas except the central Oregon coast. Weather, traffic

Razor Clam Dates Set for Washington Coast, Beginning Valentine's Day
February 14 to 19 in four areas with tentative dates Feb 26 - March 4. Washington events

Gearhart, Oregon Weather - 7-Day Forecast, Live Conditions, Wave Height, Tides, Sky Cams
Live weather conditions, cams, tides and forecasts for Gearhart, Oregon

Forecasts for Oregon Coast Whale Watch Week, How Well It Cooperates
Chilly and windy at times but mostly calm waves that let you spot them. Weather

Monks and a Mandala - An Extraordinary Weekend at Central Oregon Coast's Yachats
Tuesday, February 17, through Sunday, February 22, at Yachats Commons. Yachats events

Mussel Harvesting Reopened on South Oregon Coast
It had been closed from Port Orford southward because of biotoxins. Marine sciences

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted