Dorset County Museum and the Jurassic Coast Trust are excited to announce that the Natural History Museum’s famous Diplodocus, known affectionately to millions as ‘Dippy’, is coming to Dorset.
A recent timelapse image of visitors to the Natural History Museum, London, walking past the Diplodocus exhibit.
At 21 metres long and more than 4 metres high, Dippy will fill the Dorset County Museum’s Victorian Hall. The exhibit will be open to the public between February and May 2018 as the first stop on Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure.
Director of Dorset County Museum, Dr Jon Murden, said:
“We are so excited to be welcoming Dippy to the heart of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. As the birthplace of palaeontology, there is nowhere in the UK more appropriate for Dippy to start his national tour than Dorset and we’re thrilled to have been chosen as the first host venue.
“Dippy will help draw new visitors to see our internationally important fossil collections, which I’m sure will inspire the next generation of scientists.”
Chair of the Jurassic Coast Trust, Doug Hulyer, said:
“The Jurassic Coast Trust is delighted to be partnering with Dorset County Museum to bring Dippy to Dorset. We will be working with schools, community groups, local charities, children’s centres, and other museums and visitor centres along the length of the World Heritage Site to help people across the region take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “
The Diplodocus exhibit with children at the Natural History Museum, London.
Cllr Peter Finney, Deputy Leader of Dorset County Council, which co-funds and hosts the Jurassic Coast team, said:
“We are pleased to support this fantastic coup for the Dorset County Museum and Jurassic Coast Trust. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Dorset and the Jurassic Coast to showcase its outstanding natural assets through this iconic specimen.”
This free exhibition is likely to be very popular with residents and visitors alike, so advance booking will be strongly advised. Tickets will be available from August 2017 from dorsetcountymuseum.org
Read more about Dippy coming to the Jurassic Coast and be the first to hear about news and events.
Dippy has delighted people since he arrived in London in 1905. With generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Dippy will visit seven other venues during his three-year tour. The Natural History Museum hopes that altogether he will inspire five million natural history adventures, encouraging people to explore nature on their doorstep.
Dippy will visit Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and five regions across England. In chronological order, Dippy will be on show at: Dorset County Museum, Birmingham Museum, Ulster Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow, Great North Museum Newcastle, National Assembly of Wales, Number One Riverside Rochdale, and Norwich Cathedral.
