On November 12, 1970, a 45-foot, 8-ton sperm whale washed ashore near Florence, Oregon, posing a major disposal challenge. The Oregon Highway Division decided to blow it up with half a ton of dynamite ...

An Oregon highway engineer who blew up a dead beached whale with a half-ton of dynamite in 1970 has died at the age of 84. George Thomas Thornton gained national attention over the exploding whale ...