Fifty-five years ago, a dead sperm whale washed ashore near Florence — and what happened next became one of the most infamous moments in state history.

Engineers from the Oregon Highway Division, unsure how to dispose of the 8-ton carcass, decided to blow it up with 20 cases of dynamite. The result: a spectacular explosion that sent whale blubber raining down on spectators, cars and the dunes on Nov. 12, 1970.

In the decades since, the “Exploding Whale” has gone from a cautionary tale to a beloved piece of Oregon lore .

The 55th anniversary celebration is set for Sunday, Nov. 16, in Florence — and everyone’s invited to bring a little blubber-themed joy.

Here are 10 things to know about the blast and the celebration it inspired.

1. The blast that started it all

The 1970 explosio

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