THE Natural History Museum’s famous diplodocus replica has gone on display in Scotland for the first time.
The replica cast, made from plaster of Paris and resin and nicknamed Dippy, is on show at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow for the next four months.
It is an example of the Diplodocus carnegii species that lived between 145 and 156 million years ago and roamed
North America.
The species is named after the Scottish-born industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who financed the excavation of the skeleton of a diplodocus, on which Dippy is based, in Wyoming in the US in 1899.
Schoolgirl Emillie McQuade, pictured right, got the chance to add the last bone to the model before it went on public display. The 11-year-old, from Sunnyside School of Conservation, in Craigend, Glasgow, said she was “excited” to have the honour. She said of the structure: “It’s massive, it’s so big. It’s a really good opportunity for everyone to come here and see Dippy.”
Councillor David McDonald, chairman of Glasgow Life, said: “Kelvingrove gets 1.3m visitors a year. We think having an attraction like Dippy can only help boost those numbers.
The hope is this will spark people into seeing the rest of
the collection.
“There are more than half-a-million items in Glasgow’s natural history collection on display here but also on display at Nitshill, our museums resource centre, so there’s so much to see here at the Kelvingrove and across the rest of the city.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here