Whale Skeleton Remains Buried 40 Years After Beaching in South Carolina

The bones of a humpback whale that died in North Myrtle Beach in 1986 were never displayed as planned at the South Carolina State Museum.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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In 1986, a humpback whale beached in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, drawing large crowds. The whale was euthanized, and its carcass was moved to a nearby wooded area. State officials planned to display the whale's skeleton at the South Carolina State Museum, but that never happened. The bones were eventually transported to Clemson University's Sandhills research station, where they have remained buried for the past 36 years. Despite efforts by a former museum curator to create an interactive exhibit featuring the whale skeleton, the bones have never been put on public display.

Why it matters

The failure to display the North Myrtle Beach humpback whale skeleton is seen as a missed opportunity to educate the public about these majestic marine mammals. Humpback whales are one of the most recognizable whale species, but they rarely wash up on Carolina beaches, making this a unique chance to showcase the skeleton. The story also highlights the challenges and complexities involved in preserving and displaying large animal remains, even when there is initial public interest and official plans to do so.

The details

After the whale died, a local contractor transported the carcass to a wooded area near Conway, where it was left to decompose. In 1990, a team from the South Carolina State Museum retrieved the partially decayed skeleton and transported it to Columbia. However, the bones were then buried at Clemson University's Sandhills research station, where they have remained ever since. Former museum officials cited the difficulty and expense of properly cleaning, preserving, and reassembling the large whale skeleton as reasons why the display never materialized.

  • In March 1986, the humpback whale beached in North Myrtle Beach.
  • In March 1990, a team from the South Carolina State Museum retrieved the partially decomposed whale skeleton from the woods near Conway.
  • For the past 36 years, the whale bones have been buried at Clemson University's Sandhills research station.

The players

Dick Elliott

A South Carolina state representative who intervened to keep the whale skeleton in South Carolina rather than allowing it to be acquired by North Carolina State University.

Marilyn Hatley

The former mayor of North Myrtle Beach who expressed disappointment that the whale skeleton was never displayed as planned.

Michael Ray

A former curator at the South Carolina State Museum who championed plans to create an interactive exhibit featuring the whale skeleton, where visitors could walk through the skeleton.

Overton Ganong

The director of the South Carolina State Museum until 2001, who said a whale display was not a priority during his tenure due to the work and expense involved.

Paul Nader

A former North Carolina State University animal technician who was present at North Myrtle Beach when the whale beached and believed the university could have put the skeleton on display within a few years.

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What they’re saying

“It's very sad that we did not follow through with the intentions of displaying it in South Carolina. If (N.C. State) wanted it, and they were going to follow through, it's a shame we did not give it to the state of North Carolina.”

— Marilyn Hatley, Former North Myrtle Beach Mayor

“Not to get too Biblical on you, but it's dust to dust. The bones could be disintegrated into their basic elements by now.”

— Paul Nader, Former N.C. State Animal Technician

What’s next

The South Carolina State Museum says it still may put the whale skeleton on display 'at the appropriate time,' but there is no immediate timeline for this. The museum will need to use ground-penetrating radar to locate the buried bones at Clemson University's research station before any potential display can be planned.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges and missed opportunities in preserving and displaying unique natural history specimens, even when there is initial public interest and official plans to do so. The failure to exhibit the North Myrtle Beach humpback whale skeleton is a loss for the public, as it would have provided a rare chance to educate people about these majestic marine mammals up close.