Oct
31

What real-life monster mystery was solved at the Smithsonian?

In 1896, a smelly ball of muck washed ashore in St. Augustine, Fla. The boys who found it thought it was the remains of a whale but the blob hit the headlines as the “St. Augustine Monster.” A century later, DNA testing proved the boys were right all along. The monster was a ball of whale blubber.

Interested in more whale tales? ›

Discover more Seriously Amazing SI-Qs >

http://seriouslyamazing.si.edu/siq/monster-mystery

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Posted: 31 October 2012
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About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.