Dippy to be Replaced

[dgmilner]

Dippy the Diplodocus, which has stood in the main hall of the Natural History Museum in London for many years, is to be replaced with the skeleton of a blue whale.

Ninety-two percent of respondents to an online poll are opposed to the change.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/dinosaur-forced-retire-natural-history-5061638

[SBell]

They should squeeze the two skeletons in there together--that would be a great display.

[Takama]

What will happen to the Dippy?

[triceratops83]

They should squeeze the two skeletons in there together--that would be a great display.

Yeah, why can't they hang the whale from above?

[stargatedalek]

I'm very conflicted on this, on one hand a large sauropod display like that isn't something that you can see just anywhere,  but on the other hand whales hold a special place in my life. I suppose in the end the whale wins out for me, its just more important to teach people about the current plight of the world's cetaceans seeing as they still face so many adversities and need more public awareness. Just rrecently an entire pod of blue whales came aground not to far from where I am now.

[Dinomike]

I'm very conflicted on this, on one hand a large sauropod display like that isn't something that you can see just anywhere,  but on the other hand whales hold a special place in my life. I suppose in the end the whale wins out for me, its just more important to teach people about the current plight of the world's cetaceans seeing as they still face so many adversities and need more public awareness. Just rrecently an entire pod of blue whales came aground not to far from where I am now.

Good point! Poor whales! Maybe that's the idea all along - continue whaling etc and the only whales you will see are the ones in museums. Maybe the diplodocus, which I was honoured to see so 15+ years ago, will be displayed somewhere else? Or then there's going to be one massive ebay auction...! 

[suspsy]

The museum makes a good case for preserving today's fauna, but using the word "relevant" is horrid. If we start using "relevant" to determine the value of natural history exhibits, we risk a very slippery slope.

And hey, how about completely renovating your atrocious dinosaur hall, NHM?

[Sim]

I read about this on Facebook this morning and I'm upset by it.  That Diplodocus skeleton is very impressive!  I live in London and I've been to the Natural History Museum at different points in my life.  I'm sure it's not easy to manage, although I think it could do better if maybe there was a small entrance fee and they updated some of their sections, like the dinosaur one.

They should squeeze the two skeletons in there together--that would be a great display.

I agree!

[HD-man]

The museum makes a good case for preserving today's fauna, but using the word "relevant" is horrid. If we start using "relevant" to determine the value of natural history exhibits, we risk a very slippery slope.

I concur. Also, if they had read Sampson's Dinosaur Odyssey: Fossil Threads in the Web of Life ( http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Odyssey-Fossil-Threads-Life/dp/0520269896 ), they'd know that dinos are more relevant now than ever b-4.

[DinoToyForum]

I'm not convinced by the reason given for the proposed change. The cynic in me suspects that the real motive is to provide more floor space in the main hall for corporate events and so on. Or some other logistical consideration we haven't thought of.

[Derek.McManus]

In the news today...the Natural History museum in London is to replace 'Dippy' the Diplodocus with a Blue whale skeleton. The sauropod model has greeted visitors for the last 35 years and been on display for over 100 years. It is proposed to replace it with a Blue whale skeleton as an example of  an animal that is still alive. The fate of the dinosaur us unclear at present it may be stored moved to another part of the museum or sent on a UK wide tour.

[stargatedalek]

I suppose it would give them space for events, that's a good theory. It could also give them some improved crowd control.

[laticauda]

I'm not convinced by the reason given for the proposed change. The cynic in me suspects that the real motive is to provide more floor space in the main hall for corporate events and so on. Or some other logistical consideration we haven't thought of.

From what I have read, I would assume that it was for an increase in floor space.

[Jetoar]

I prefered Dippy in its site, the hall will be really different 

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I think I know the motives behind removing Dippy, however I don't see how both of them can't be in the same hall, especially since one hangs from the ceiling and the other is on the ground.

[CityRaptor]

Both together should make for a spectacular display, with Dippy on the ground and the whale pulling a "Flying Seafood Special". Otherwise they could always use the skeleton of the whale for a souvenir shop:


Replacing Dippy based on "relevance" indeed seems wonky.

[amargasaurus cazaui]

Forgive me for asking but I am unsure...is this the famous "cast" model sent abroad to several countries by Andrew Carnegie and actually a replica then? Or is this an actual skeletal that has been mounted? I am guessing this is a cast ?

[CityRaptor]

Yes, Dippy is one of Carnegie's casts. So while not an original, it is still a historical piece.

[Crackington]

I'm a bit conflicted on this too, the Diplodocus is iconic and you know you've arrived when you see it, but its only been in its current position since the early 1970s. The blue whale also has a long association with the museum, although it is the giant model in the mammals hall that has the real iconic status. People queued around the block to see it when first displayed in the 1930s and it was still a draw decades later (hence the Invicta figure).

Collections should be mixed up and re-configured from time to time to keep the displays fresh; we all know that from our own dino collections. Dippy has had a good innings,but I will be sorry to see it go just the same. 

[Derek.McManus]

The replacement is not due to take place for at least one year possibly two, it may be relocated within the museum or it has been proposed to explore the possibility of touring the cast round various UK museums.