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All the United States Oregon Yachats Bazalgette the Whale

Bazalgette the Whale

There's something big lurking beneath the surface of this tiny Oregon park.

Yachats, Oregon

Added By
Ruben Stemple
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Bazalgette the Whale.   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Bazalgette the Whale.   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
The whale’s tail.   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
  kayhoskins66 / Atlas Obscura User
Outline of Bazalgette the Whale.   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
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About

There's a huge gray whale lurking beneath the surface of a tiny park in Yachats, Oregon. At least, that's what this whimsical sculpture wants you to believe.

The first thing visitors to Whale Park will notice is the metal whale tail sticking up from the grass. Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear the ground in front of the tail is rounded as if the rest of the graceful giant were swimming just below the surface.

About once every minute, the whale announces its presence with a spray of water from a hidden source. When the sun hits it just right, it looks as if the underground whale is spouting rainbows. 

Officially known as Bazalgette the Whale, the bronze sculpture was created by local artist Jim Adler in 1995 and is designed to resemble a life-sized gray whale.

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Whales Parks Roadside Attractions Hidden Statues Animals

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Carry a stopwatch or be good at counting if you want to search around for the spout without getting wet.  There is room for three or four cars next to the park on the northbound side of Highway 101.

Community Contributors

Added By

R Stemple

Edited By

kayhoskins66

  • kayhoskins66

Published

October 10, 2017

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Sources
  • http://www.yachats.org/artsandculture.html
  • https://prinnystaylor.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/bazalgette-the-whale/
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=uPmlju-T3moC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=whale+park+yachats+oregon+jim+adler&source=bl&ots=SEl36UO7ow&sig=qfgYKx7Zm0sc3OYsQOsL1wz1On8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIp7vMnOTWAhWC0YMKHSy3C9UQ6AEIQjAH#v=onepage&q=whale%20park%20yachats%20oregon%20jim%20adler&f=false
  • Jim Adler
  • Jim Adler himself states that the sculpture was installed in 1991.
Bazalgette the Whale
140 Prospect Ave
Yachats, Oregon
United States
44.310472, -124.101969
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Photo of Yachats

Yachats

Oregon

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