Bye bye Dippy

[Cloud the Dinosaur King]

For those of you who haven't heard, Dippy the Diplodocus is getting replaced by a Blue Whale this summer. We will miss you Dippy http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/galleries-and-museum-map/hintze-hall.html

[Libraraptor]

constantly? or only for the purpose of a special exhibition?

[ceratopsian]

Its removal from the Hintze Hall (the entrance hall) is permanent.  It was removed from display in early January this year.  There is talk that after Dippy (which is, of course, a cast) has been on tour round the UK, a new skeleton will be created and erected somewhere in the grounds of the Natural History Museum, but I don't know what has been decided.  There is information on the Natural History Museum's Facebook page.

[CityRaptor]

Poor Dippy, getting replaced by the BOOOOO whale. One is an example of gigantism done right, the other of how mammals do it. Given how the whale is depicted as a Flying Seafood Special, I think it would be possible to have both in there.

[ceratopsian]

I just wonder: the Natural History Museum is always packed and the entrance hall very crowded.  I know the blue whale has been justified in terms of getting the young visitors etc to appreciate the natural world around them, conservation etc.  But I have this niggling suspicion that maybe the museum wanted something to hang from the ceiling rather than stand on the floor, as it will make visitor circulation and crowd control/funnelling easier.  Perhaps I'm just being over suspicious.....

[Lanthanotus]

Nooooo! :/

To be sure, I like Blue Whales, but every other museum that has anything to do with nature has it's whale skeleton, but that Diplodocus was a one of a kind eye catcher in that immense hall. Just had the opportunity once to see it, so... never more :/

[Cloud the Dinosaur King]

Nooooo! :/

To be sure, I like Blue Whales, but every other museum that has anything to do with nature has it's whale skeleton, but that Diplodocus was a one of a kind eye catcher in that immense hall. Just had the opportunity once to see it, so... never more :/

I've never seen Dippy before. I live in the US and I have never been to another continent, or country for that matter.

[Lanthanotus]

Nooooo! :/

To be sure, I like Blue Whales, but every other museum that has anything to do with nature has it's whale skeleton, but that Diplodocus was a one of a kind eye catcher in that immense hall. Just had the opportunity once to see it, so... never more :/

I've never seen Dippy before. I live in the US and I have never been to another continent, or country for that matter.

It's like 15 years ago, would need to see if I made a photo, but it would be an analogue photo

[ceratopsian]

The NHM produced a little hardback book about the cast a few years ago and it's still in print.  It's called "Dippy: the Tale of a Museum Icon".  See here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dippy-Tale-Museum-Paul-Barrett/dp/0565092596/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491577645&sr=8-1&keywords=dippy+icon

It's very "souvenir" but quite nice to have.

[Appalachiosaurus]

Eh, it's not really that bad. If you want a Diplodocus there is a much better prepared and presented skeleton in Carnegie, Blue whales are cooler anyway.

[Cloud the Dinosaur King]

Eh, it's not really that bad. If you want a Diplodocus there is a much better prepared and presented skeleton in Carnegie, Blue whales are cooler anyway.

Well in that case, TO PENNSYLVANIA!! It's much closer that England anyway. It would probably take me only a few hours to get there.

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

It's a shame they're replacing an iconic dinosaur with some mammal; dippy is far more impressive than a whale could ever be. Luckily we have the original dippy here in my home state of PA.

[Appalachiosaurus]

It's a shame they're replacing an iconic dinosaur with some mammal; dippy is far more impressive than a whale could ever be. Luckily we have the original dippy here in my home state of PA.

Please, Dippy is 30ft shorter and 1/4 the weight. Blue whales rule, plus the Whale skeleton is actually real.

[stargatedalek]

Frankly whales need and deserve a lot more attention, so this is a welcome change.

[Patrx]

Let's not have one of those "which animal is better" arguments, eh? Not speaking as a moderator, I just think it's a silly pursuit.

[Moodyraptor]

As a regular visitor to the NHM since childhood, I will miss Dippy - he's been there as long as I've been alive, more or less.  But I am quite excited to see the whale skeleton displayed properly - it's not the greatest display where it is right now (or was, until they removed it to move it...).  I hope it does have impact, because the great thing about Dippy was the impact when you first walk into the museum.   

[stargatedalek]

I refer to the situation surrounding the blue whale (and indeed most whales), they deserve and need the attention because they are still under threat.

[CrypticPrism]

Ugh. Sauropods one-upped again by a fat, not even blue, sausage-shaped fish mammmal.


I know whales are endangered and need help, but really? Really?

[stargatedalek]

Ugh. Sauropods one-upped again by a fat, not even blue, sausage-shaped fish mammmal.


I know whales are endangered and need help, but really? Really?

The only living lineage of marine animals that swim with vertical movement, or a scaley giraffe that doesn't even hold its neck entirely vertical.


That's you. That's what you sound like.

[CityRaptor]

A member of the group that contains not only the largest animals to ever walk the land but also the most succesfull herbivorous vertebrates. Also a fantastic biomechanical construction and example of gigantism.

The other some sea animal that is an example of how to not archieve gigantism and that is only considered the largest animal due to lots of fat.