Arguably the most famous and well travelled dinosaur skeleton in the UK is to briefly return home to the Natural History Museum in London from May.
As part of a free temporary installation until the end of the year, ‘Dippy Returns: the nation’s favourite dinosaur’, visitors will have a chance to see the 26m diplodocus skeleton cast as it returns to the place where it first put on display in 1905.
Following a nationwide tour, which has reportedly amassed 2 million visitors, the temporary exhibit will feature visitors’ reflections on reconnecting with nature.
We're excited to announce our new installation, #Dippy Returns: The nation's favourite dinosaur! ?
Visit Dippy and enjoy the memories from this dinosaur's greatest natural history adventure yet.
Be the first to hear about tickets ? https://t.co/mSXA1uPYYP
— Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) February 24, 2022
Dr Doug Gurr, Museum Director explained: “Biodiversity is under threat all over the UK and we hope this new installation reflecting on what Dippy saw whilst on tour will encourage people to be excited about the natural world and therefore work to protect it for the benefit of both people and planet.”
The Dippy skeleton will be displayed in the Natural History Museum’s Waterhouse gallery, where it was previously displayed in the seventies, having previously displayed in the Reptiles gallery, Hintze Hall and even a brief stint in the basement to protect the specimen during World War II.
In 2020 the skeleton spent an extended period at Rochdale’s Number One Riverside after its series of nationwide exhibitions was halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.
