“Colossus” Whale Exhibit at the Appleton MILW Depot

From 4 to 7 May of 1931, the MILW (former M&N) depot on S. Oneida St. in Appleton hosted a unique exhibit for the general public. A 68-ton, 55-foot-long, embalmed finback whale, carried on a specially built railroad freight car, was spotted near the depot.

The Pacific Whaling Co. exhibit included other marine specimens, whaling tools, and a whaling captain who gave lectures about the whaling industry. This was an opportunity for local residents, the majority of whom would never see an ocean, to see marine fauna.

Admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Adjusted for inflation, those prices would be approximately $5.37 and $2.15 respectively. That might not seem exorbitant today, but in 1931 we were in the midst of the Great Depression, when many Americans were desperate to find a job, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their heads. Local schools, Boy Scout troops, and Camp Fire Girl groups were invited to see the exhibit for free, courtesy of the City and the Post-Crescent.

The exhibit was originally intended to be displayed at the Soo Line depot on W. College Ave., but was changed to the MILW depot for some reason currently unknown to us.

Whale Exhibit
An advertisement from the Post-Crescent, 1 May 1931, announcing the pending arrival of the whale exhibit to Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 1 May 1931, announcing the pending arrival of the whale exhibit to Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
A photograph from the Post-Crescent, 2 May 1931, announcing the pending arrival of the whale exhibit to Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 2 May 1931, announcing the pending arrival of the whale exhibit to Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An advertisement from the Post-Crescent, 2 May 1931, announcing the pending arrival of the whale exhibit to Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 4 May 1931, announcing the arrival of the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An advertisement from the Post-Crescent, 4 May 1931, announcing the arrival of the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 5 May 1931, describing a local business which paid for tickets for disabled children to attend the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An advertisement from the Post-Crescent, 5 May 1931, for the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 5 May 1931, describing the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 6 May 1931, describing the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An article from the Post-Crescent, 7 May 1931, about the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.
Whale Exhibit
An advertisement from the Post-Crescent, 7 May 1931, about the whale exhibit in Appleton, Wis.

This exhibit, possibly several similar exhibits, plied the rails across the U.S. and Canada until at least 1936. We tried to learn which city hosted this exhibit before it came to Appleton, and which was the next to host it after it left, but we haven’t found that information yet.