Assembly Required

Assembly Required. The Making of Chad. , Discovery , This skeleton is from a Blue Whale found beached on the coast of Vandenberg AFB. , , The cause of death was blunt force trauma from a ship strike. , Recovery , Museum scientists lifted the bones up a sheer cliff one piece at a time. , Preparation , All of the pieces were transported to the Museum where the bones were cleaned over the next year and a half. , , The skeleton was organized and labeled by Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Dr. Charles Woodhouse. , Installation , The original assembly of Chad, in 1983. , Refurbishment , The entire skeleton traveled to Novato, CA for refurbishment. , , Custom supports were created to elevate and hold the skeleton during installation. , , In 2010 after a year of refurbishment, Chad once again takes his place as the treasured Museum icon you see today. , Astonishing in Every Way , One of the loudest animals on earth, Blue Whales communicate with one another using songs and calls that can travel through water for over 1,000 miles. , Its tongue can weigh as much as an elephant. , Its heart beats just once every 10 seconds and can be heard two miles away. , Blue Whales live about 70-90 years. , At birth, newborn Blue Whales can weigh 6,000 pounds. Nursing Blue Whale calves gain as much as nine pounds an hour. , This skeleton is from a juvenile male, and at about 72 feet long, isn't even full grown. , Blue Whales can swim as fast as 30 mph for short periods. , Blue Whales can grow up to 100 feet long and weigh more than 200 tons.