What Dinosaur Was Used in the Natural History Museum?

If you’ve ever visited the Natural History Museum, you might have noticed the giant dinosaur skeleton that dominates the main hall. This impressive specimen is known as Dippy, and it has been a popular attraction for over a century.

The History of Dippy

Dippy is actually a Diplodocus skeleton, which is a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago. The skeleton was originally discovered in Wyoming, USA in 1898 by a team of paleontologists from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

How Dippy Came to the UK

In 1901, King Edward VII invited Andrew Carnegie (the founder of the museum) to display one of his dinosaur specimens in London. Carnegie agreed and sent over the Diplodocus skeleton, which was then unveiled at the Natural History Museum in May 1905.

Dippy’s Popularity

Since then, Dippy has become one of the most famous exhibits at the museum and has been enjoyed by millions of visitors over the years. Its impressive size (over 21 meters long!) and striking appearance make it a must-see for anyone interested in dinosaurs and natural history.

Changes to Dippy’s Display

However, in recent years there have been some changes to how Dippy is displayed at the museum. In January 2017, it was announced that Dippy would be replaced with a blue whale skeleton in order to better reflect current scientific research and conservation efforts.

Conclusion

While some visitors may miss seeing Dippy in person, it’s important for museums to stay up-to-date with new discoveries and changing attitudes towards conservation. And who knows? Maybe one day another dinosaur will take its place as the star attraction at the Natural History Museum!