TAKING shape like the world’s largest jigsaw, Dippy the dinosaur will soon be on full display to the public at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.
After sailing across the Irish Sea Dippy, the Natural History Museum London’s famous diplodocus, is close to completion having been unboxed and rebuilt piece-by-piece.
With 292 bones to be put in place, specialists have been delicately building Dippy ahead of the grand unveiling on Tuesday January 22.
Members of the public have been keenly watching the 21.3 metre fossil cast come together from the museum’s balconies, with the building site fenced off below.
Dippy was transported to Scotland in 16 bespoke crates, each carefully packed with the precious cargo.
Natural History Museum conservator Lorraine Cornish, together with a small team of conservators and technicians from the museum, emptied the final boxes today as work neared completion.
Lorraine said: “As Dippy on Tour approaches the half-way point, having proved a huge success at the first three destinations, it seems very fitting that the next stop is a homecoming of sorts.
“The Scottish leg of the tour, where the creation of the NHM Dippy cast was first discussed, is the perfect destination to reflect on the many people Dippy has so far inspired to explore their own natural world.
“We hope the visitors to Dippy in Glasgow will be equally enthralled by this Jurassic ambassador.”
Dippy will be on show until May 6 as part of a UK tour, having never been on public display outside of London before.
Kelvingrove Museum is the only Scottish destination on the tour.
Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor David McDonald, said: “The excitement is palpable. Like thousands of other visitors I’m relishing the unique opportunity to see this impressive creature take shape before my eyes.
“It’s a pleasure to watch the skilled team from Natural History Museum bring Dippy to life in Glasgow. We look forward to welcoming his many adoring fans to Kelvingrove Museum over the coming months.”
Diplodocus carnegii is named after Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American steel magnate and philanthropist who financed its excavation in Wyoming, USA in 1899.
It was to become the centrepiece of The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
King Edward VII saw a sketch of the dinosaur while visiting Andrew Carnegie at his Scottish castle, Skibo and began a conversation that resulted in the commission of a replica cast.
Dippy, as it became known, was unveiled at the Natural History Museum in 1905, where it has remained one of the most popular exhibits until preparations began for Dippy on Tour in 2017.
Dippy on Tour is on a mission to inspire five million natural history adventures and encourage families to explore nature on their doorstep.
Glasgow Museums will use Dippy’s visit, together with a supporting public and schools programme, to showcase the city’s natural history collection and stunning local natural habitats.
For more information visit www.glasgowmuseums.com
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe