Dippy The Diplodocus Goes On Display In Glasgow

22 January 2019, 09:00

The Natural History Museum's famous dinosaur, Dippy the diplodocus, is going on display to the public in Scotland for the first time, from today.

The giant model dinosaur skeleton is going on show at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow as it approaches the halfway point of its three-year tour of the UK.

Members of the public will be able to view the Jurassic giant on the only Scottish stop of the eight-city tour until early May.

Councillor David McDonald, chair of Glasgow Life, said: "Dippy has arrived. There is a wonderful sense of excitement surrounding the biggest thing to arrive at Kelvingrove Museum - quite literally - this year.

"Like thousands of other visitors, I can't wait to see this impressive creature up close. I believe that seeing Dippy first-hand is certain to inspire the next generation of conservationists and to encourage families to explore nature on their doorstep."

The replica cast, which is made from plaster of Paris and resin, is an example of the Diplodocus carnegii species that lived between 145 and 156 million years ago and roamed North America.

The species is named after Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist and philanthropist who financed its excavation in Wyoming, US in 1899, and donated the cast to the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London.

It was on display in Hintze Hall of the NHM from 1979 until January 2017 and, before the tour, the dinosaur had never been on public display outside of London.

The 21.3-metre skeleton cast arrived at the centre hall of the Kelvingrove earlier this month after sailing across the Irish Sea.

The model travelled to Scotland by ferry in 16 bespoke crates after being on display in Belfast.

In recent days, experts have been working to unpack the 292-bone structure and undertake the giant "jigsaw" of putting the dinosaur back together, ready for display.

NHM director Sir Michael Dixon said: "We are thrilled that Dippy has once again made it safely across the Irish sea and has now arrived at Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow.

"This marks the fourth stop of Dippy on tour - a journey that has so far seen record visitor numbers at the three previous venues.

"Dippy has acted as an ambassador for the natural world inspiring thousands of children to explore nature on their doorstep. We are sure his impact will be just as powerful in Scotland and hope visitors are as excited to see him as we are for him to be here."

Dippy is on display at the Kelvingrove until the first week of May.

Admission is free and unticketed, although visitors are being asked to leave extra time to see Dippy during weekends and school holidays.

Once he leaves Glasgow, he will visit Newcastle, Cardiff, Rochdale and Norwich on the tour which finishes in October next year.