My story of a mature grey whale found on a remote Alaskan beach.

In 2023, I planned a beach combing trip, as we took off in the bush plane my pilot asked me what was at the top of my list of things I’d like to find. I replied with glass floats, which I call antiques of the sea. They were used by Japanese fishermen from the 20’s -50’s in the Bearing Sea. They are hand blown net floats mostly from recycled sake bottles and come in many different shades but mostly turquoise. I also told the pilot that while I knew it was rare, a pair of whale jawbones would really be a dream to find! I told him about my dream of finding the whale bones to use at my remote Alaska Lodge to create an arch for all the guests to enjoy.

We had only been in the air a short while when I caught sight of them, I could not believe my eyes! There they were, resting in the sand undamaged! We landed along the beach, realizing the mistake of being downwind of a whale carcass with 50’ of rotting meat still attached when we tried to enjoy lunch. The jaw bones were in perfect condition.

The jaw bones always come out of the whale first, sometimes even before the dead whale reaches a beach. This is partly why it can be harder to find an undamaged pair. Upon returning home and researching how to get them registered with the federal government and the logistics of moving them to our lodge, I thought they had slipped from my fingers. A pilot from a local village told me they were no longer on the beach.

With the spring of 2024 came another beachcoming season. I had a new partner to explore with, my friend Stephanie. Early spring arrived and at low tide she landed on the beach in front of the house. Stephanie wanted to find some glass floats of her own and had never explored out west before, so our journey began. We were off on a girls adventure with great weather forecasted. The flight over was as beautiful as it gets, we were laughing & swapping stories along the way. I told Stephanie I really wanted to fly over the whale I had seen the year before to check if anything was left.

We stayed overnight in a village, setting out the next morning with big smiles on our faces as we loaded into her plane. As we approached where I had seen the whale the previous year I was rewarded with a beautiful site. I could not believe it! There they were, waiting for me to find them again. It turned out they had been buried in the sand. I realized then, the only reason they were still there is no one could get them off the beach. Sitting on the beach at 14 feet long and about 400 pounds each, they had washed up very high on an extremely flat stretch where boats couldn’t get close. We picked up some of the vertebrae, being careful to save cargo space for glass floats, our main mission!

The next place we landed we struck gold and filled the plane with floats! While only a few vertebrae made the trip back with our full haul of floats, returning from this trip I was already planning just how to get the rest of the bones to Between Beaches.

I flew back out west the next week to start the recovery process. The idea of building a whalebone arch on my own remote stretch of land was so exciting. The local village pilot introduced me to the fisherman whose cabin was near the bones. In true Alaskan spirit he flew me out there with little notice to the fishermen. I was warmly welcomed as I hopped out of the plane with dinner and beverages for everyone. The next day Ryan, the fisherman, lent me his UTV to start collecting bones. I dug a rib bone out of the sand and to my surprise there were 3 more under the one I originally saw sticking up. Unearthing these treasures reminded me of my high school archaeology class.

Ryan came later with his trailer to help collect the bones. With nothing but brute strength he lifted the bones onto the trailer by himself. I made a new friend that day. As a thank you for their part in making my dream a reality I’ve offered to host both he and his wife while they explore Seldovia and look at real estate.

A little while later, after the fishing season came to an end, they were loaded onto a 100’ crab boat that carried them 650 miles to Seward. From Seward I hooked the trailer to my truck and drove 168 miles to Homer. Not home yet, the bones were loaded onto my skiff for another 17 more miles across Kachemak Bay. After 835 miles we were able to begin the unloading process.

Bringing them home was no simple task. It took planning, patience, and creative thinking. Those of you who know me are aware of my determination. From the moment I laid eyes on those bones, I knew exactly what they were destined to become. Building this arch was going to be a great addition to our Alaskan Vacation, getaway or retreat!

More than just a tribute to my childhood dream, this is in tribute to the multiple cultures that have used whalebone arches throughout history. From Indigenous groups in the Arctic who used them structurally and ceremonially, to European and island cultures who erected them as monuments related to whaling history. For generations, communities have lived with profound respect for whales — not only as sources of food and materials, but as central beings in their cultures, beliefs, and survival.

Whale-Bone Arches Around the World — A Shared Human Tribute

Our arch also continues a broader, global tradition. For centuries, coastal and whaling communities elsewhere used whale bones, particularly large jaw bones, to build arches, monuments and memorials. For instance, in the seaside town of Whitby, England, an arch built from whale jawbones stood for generations as a monument to that town’s whaling history.

By installing our arch at Between Beaches Alaska, we honor those traditions: the respectful use of whale bone, the memory of the whales themselves, and the global human story of coexistence with the ocean.

Constructing with Reverence

Constructing the arch was an act of both engineering and artistry. Every step — engineering, positioning, & anchoring — was done with respect: respect for the bones, respect for the whale that once carried them. First we epoxied recycled stainless steel boat shafts into the large nerve vein that runs up inside the bone. Using long boards we screwed the arch in place on the ground first, essentially crating it or sandwiching it between the boards. We slowly lifted it upright using the 4-wheeler winch and block & tackle strung high in the trees. We dug the holes at the bottom ends of the boat shafts that would slowly slide into the holes we dug as the bones became upright. We anchored the bones standing in place with 6,000 pounds of concrete. After that we stepped back to admire them and proceeded to celebrate!

Today, the arch welcomes guests as they wander the shoreline, capturing photos, reflecting on the scale of Alaska’s marine life, and connecting to a history far older than our unique Alaskan Lodge.

A New Chapter at Between Beaches

We are honored to share this unique piece of heritage with visitors from around the world. This whale bone arch is more than a structure. It is a symbol of persistence, reverence, and the timeless bond between human dreams and the stories of the Bering Sea.

Special Thanks to Micheal Fortea, the federal agent I work with to register all of my whale bones here at Between Beaches Alaska Lodge.