Dippy the Diplodocus is an awe-inspiring 292 piece skeleton cast. He has delighted visitors since he arrived in London in 1905 and Dippy on Tour: A Natural; History Adventure, which takes in eight venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is the first time he has been put on public display outside of the Natural History Museum.
Dippy’s arrival in the Gas Hall at Birmingham’s Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) will be the only chance to see the impressive 26 metres long cast in the Midlands.
Tickets can be booked now at: birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/dippy-on-tour-a-natural-history-adventure
The Diplodocus lived between 156 and 145 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period and would have weighed around 13 tonnes. This superstar dinosaur cast, gives us an insight into the prehistoric creatures that roamed our earth, long before we were around.
In Birmingham, Dippy will be displayed as part of an exciting and interactive free exhibition which will show that not all dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years – one group survived and evolved into the birds we know today.
Bringing Birmingham’s bird collection back to BMAG for the first time in nearly 20 years, this exhibition will explore the progression from dinosaurs to birds. The exhibition will show the amazing diversity of modern birds and how they evolved to become one of the most successful groups of animals inhabiting almost every part of the world from the oceans of Antarctica to tropical rainforests.
As well as getting up close to Dippy, who will be taking centre stage, families will also be able to see a velociraptor cast, a cast of a dinosaur nest and a real Great auk, the famous bird which became extinct the mid-19th century.
Gurminder Kenth, Museum Manager at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Dippy to Birmingham. The famous dinosaur has the ability to wow and inspire everyone from toddlers to grandparents, and it’s going to be an exciting time at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
“Anticipation is building so don’t miss out on the chance to get free tickets. Not only will you see Dippy, but also experience an eye opening exhibition which allows us to showcase Birmingham’s natural history collection and inspire scientists of the future.”
An exciting programme of events is set to accompany Dippy’s stay in Birmingham. Fun for all the family, try your hand at palaeontology with a thrilling Dino Dig, delve deeper into Dippy’s past with curator’s tours, take part in crafts and trails throughout the school holidays, or enjoy a screening of Night at the Museum in partnership with Colmore BID. There will even be a Dino Children’s Menu in the Edwardian Tearooms to fuel your fun day at the museum! Find out more details on the website.
Across the Midlands, there will be lots of dinosaur fun to get involved with during Dippy’s visit to Birmingham. Venues across the region, from Wolverhampton to Coventry and Shropshire to Warwickshire, will be hosting their very own natural history adventures, with an array of events and displays. More details will be revealed soon.
Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure is brought to you by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill, working with eight partners UK wide to tour one of its most iconic exhibits over three years, with the aim of inspiring a love of nature.
The Friends of Birmingham Museums Trust have funded vital work for the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery exhibition to ensure Dippy has a longer legacy for the collections. The funds have allowed specialist conservation training for staff and volunteers to take place to ensure Birmingham’s amazing bird collection is ready for the exhibition.
For further information and ticket information visit: birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag/whats-on/dippy-on-tour-a-natural-history-adventure.
