For those who don’t know, the “exploding whale” story from 54 years ago in Florence, Oregon is considered by many to be the very first “viral” news story. It was so impactful, in fact, that Oregon has now made Exploding Whale Day an official holiday in the state. The official date is November 12th, and festivities will include a stage featuring two people dressed up as whales, as well as local merchants stocking up on and selling various exploding-whale-themed merch. It all stems from a dead sperm whale that washed up and was later exploded in an attempt to clear it from the beach…with bits of whale carcass flying far enough to land on spectators, damaging parked cars, and creating a priceless moment for television news.
Source: Oregon Live
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