Crystal Palace Park - The Stone Dinosaurs
Designed by Richard Owen, the founder of the natural history museum, the dinosaurs were built of concrete. Sadly they fell into disrepair, but a campaign some years ago restored them using fibreglass and fresh paint and they are now available as part of a free walk, showing the early history of paleontology.
Contents
- About the Dinosaurs
- Dinosaurs
- Wikipedia article on the dinosaurs
- A tour of the Models with Photographs
- Dinosaur Tours and Panoramic Slides
- Other attractions in the Park
- Restoring the Crystal Palace
- Blog Posts about Crystal Palace
- Crystal Palace memorabilia
- Crystal Palace Links
- Artwork and archives for download
- Group Discussion - Should they rebuild the Crystal Palace?
- Directions to the Crystal Palace Park
- More lenses by this author
- About the Lensmaster
About the Dinosaurs
The origin of the sculptures
The Dinosaur sculptures were originally built in 1852-4 and opened to the public in 1854. They fell into disrepair, but due to a campaign were restored in 2002, and reopened.
The original dinosaurs were stone and concrete, but during the repair process some of the missing models, and damaged parts of others, were repaired with fibreglass. The original head of one can be seen displayed on the hill by the models. Apparently local lore has it that the statues count as grade II listed buildings, but they were upgraded to Grade 1 after restoration.
They were designed taking advice from Sir Richard Owen, founder of the Natural History Museum and inventor of the term "Dinosauria". Ironically 1854 was the same year his downfall began, due to a speech which lead to the clash of his ideas and Darwin's.
Sir Richard Owen Poses Beside the Skeleton of a Moa
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Dinosaurs
The first dinosaur sculptures in the world
Mosasaurus
Hylaeosaurus
Pterodactylus
Teleosaurus
Megalosaurus
Iguanadon
Very few of these are recogniseable to a modern day visitor. For example, the Iguanadon is shown as quadropedal, and I'm not sure what most visitors make of this friendly chap!
What a nice smile!
Wikipedia article on the dinosaurs
The origin of the Dinosaurs
Models of Dinosaurs and Other Species
at the Crystal Palace Sydenham
Giclee Print at AllPosters.com
The origin of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs is covered on Wikipedia:
The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, also known as Dinosaur Court, are a series of sculptures of dinosaurs and extinct mammals located in Crystal Palace, London. Commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854, they were the first dinosaur sculptures in the world, pre-dating the publication of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species by six years. Designed and sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins with the help of Richard OwenNatural History Museum biographies Richard Owen, they were Grade II listed buildings from 1973, extensively restored in 2002 and upgraded to Grade I listed in 2007.
The models themselves are now considered out of date and to varying degrees inaccurate.
Emerging onto land...
A tour of the Models with Photographs
Available from lulu
Free resources
Hardback and Free PDF on lulu.com
A Tour of Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs
Crystal Palace Park houses the first Dinosaurs statues ever built. This photobook contains images of the statues since their restoration, useful for those curious about Paleontology and those looking for information on a day out.
Lulu Price: $19.99
A tour of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
A free photo e-book about the Crystal Palace Park dinosaur statues. Done for the lens on the topic:
http://www.squidoo.com/crystalpalacedinosaurs
Lulu Price: $0.00
...and looking for a snack!
Dinosaur Tours and Panoramic Slides
A tour of the park.
BBC Slide 1 - Anoplotheria
BBC Slide 2 - The hidden sloth
BBC Slide 3 - Land Dinosaurs
BBC Slide 4 - Aquatic dinosaurs
Otherwise a video slideshow can be viewed here:
Here Be Monsters
These monsters can be found in my local park! Yes, really! This is my first ever slideshow. I know it still needs some work. Any advice on how to improve it is welcome. Thanks. But comments just saying "It's boring and gay!" without any useful suggestions AREN'T welcome. EDIT: I forget to add that the animated titles come from http://www.hitthebongo.co.uk/videofx/
Runtime: 128
701 views
10 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Amazon Spotlight - The Dinosaur Hunters
A book covering the origin of the statues
This book covers the origin of the statues and the National History museum, while dealing with the birth of the science that would become paleontology.
This is an excellent history of Palaeontology, dealing with the rivalry between Gideon Mantell and Richard Owen, and the creation of a new science. It ends with the building of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs to Owen's design (already inaccurate when they were constructed), the founding of the Natural History Museum, and Owen's last days, made obsolete by Darwin's scientific revolution.
For those less interested in the science it is a gripping story, with strong characters and excellent writing. It is simply a benefit that the story it tells is real.
The Dinosaur Hunters: A True Story of Scientific Rivalry and the Discovery of the Prehistoric World
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Used Price: $1.26
Buy from Amazon.com
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Other attractions in the Park
What else to do.
Crystal Palace Stadium, where events such as the Commonwealth games have taken place, occupies the middle of the park. Unfortunately it is a looming example of concrete engineering and could do with some repair.
Towards the lower end are the dinosaurs, but also the maze, some sports facilities and a larger area of green space (nice to see in London). Several large events take place here, including a fireworks display and music festivals.
Restoring the Crystal Palace
The Park restoration
Crystal Palace, Sydenham, circa 1862 Giclee Print - From AllPosters.com
A miniature (22 feet high) replica of the Crystal Palace has been erected in the park, on the site where the original once stood.
Originally built eight years ago, the Crystal Palace Foundation worked to get temporary permission to move it to the site. It was transported to the park from Wolverhampton, including a trip down the Grand Union Canal.
As Bromley Council are considering a number of options to revamp the park (including a rumoured multiplex on the site) its future is uncertain.
Blog Posts about Crystal Palace
What's on locally
Fire Wrecks Crystal Palace: Royal Duke Watches
- by Mirrorpix From AllPosters.com
News and events from local people.
- Crystal Palace dinosaurs are preserved in stone| Christmas Events ...
- Crystal Palace dinosaurs are preserved in stone. By Rashid Razaq and Mira Bar-Hillel, Evening Standard 07.08.07. Add your view. Natural wonder: one of the sculptures in Crystal Palace that are to be listed ...
- First Complete Dinosaur
- Hawkins is also known for being the creator of the first life-size reconstructions of dinosaurs. They were made for display at the Crystal Palace in London. Hawkins also made the first cast of a dinosaur skeleton ? the Hadrosaurus ...
- Tlatet: Dinosaurs
- The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are sculptures that were commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854. When the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham Hill after the Great Exhibition, the new Crystal Palace Company commissioned Benjamin ...
- Crystal Palace dinosaurs
- The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, also known as Dinosaur Court, are a series of sculptures of dinosaurs and extinct mammals located in Crystal Palace, London. Commissioned in 1852 and unveiled in 1854, they were the first dinosaur ...
Crystal Palace memorabilia
Memorabilia from tirial
These are of course, unofficial, and produced using my own photographs.
Crystal Palace Links
More useful links about the dinosaurs
- Crystal Palace Dinosaurs (Wikipedia)
- A summary of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and their origin
- Sydenham Gallery: Crystal Place Park Dinosaurs
- A few photos from a local site about the park and the dinosaurs
- The Crystal Palace Foundation
- Founded in 1979, the Foundation runs a museum on the site, and is responsible for the replica of the Crystal Palace installed on the site in May 2008.
About the Crystal Palace from Amazon
Books and resources about the statues and the park
Terrible Lizard: The First Dinosaur Hunters and the Birth of a New Science
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
The Crystal Palace Exhibition Illustrated Catalogue (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs: The Story of the World's First Prehistoric Sculptures
Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009)
Artwork and archives for download
Content available from lulu
The 'Extinct Animals' model room at Crystal Palace
Sydenham showing models of dinosaurs being prepared for display. Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (1807-89) prepared the display. From ''The Illustrated London News'' (London 31 December 1853). Wood engraving.'";"Britain England Science Geology Palaeontology";"ED";"00.00.0"
Lulu Price: $7.00
Richard Owen (1804-1892) English zoologist
Lulu Price: $7.00
Great Exhibition
Hyde Park London 1851. Interior view of the Crystal Palace showing two visitors being shown a stand of oriental products. In the right hand front corner a man and woman admire plants in a Wardian case. Conceived by Prince Albert the Great Exhibition was intended to showcase the 'Works of the Industry of all Nations'. It was housed in the purpose-built Crystal Palace the first large-scale prefabricated ferrovitreous (iron and glass) structure designed by the gardener and architect Joseph Paxton. The prefabricated design made the construction and later dismantling of the building easier and quicker.";;"ED";"00.00.0"
Lulu Price: $7.00
Group Discussion - Should they rebuild the Crystal Palace?
The local campaign
There is a campaign to redevelop Crystal Palace Park. One idea under consideration is rebuilding the original Crystal Palace, proposed by the locals whothink it will be a wrldwide attraction. The Council meanwhile want to build a multiplex cinema and housing on the park.
Have your say:
Directions to the Crystal Palace Park
Why not visit the dinosaurs?
If you are planning a trip to London, the dinosaurs are one of the many free attractions you can visit. Of course, there are plenty of others, such as the RAF Museum, Natural History museum (founded by the creator of the dinosaurs) and more. You might want to take some money for ice cream in the summer however - the walk can get quite hot.
Google Maps shows the location of the park - I've zoomed this one in on the dinosaurs, but you can zoom out to plan a road trip.
The Crystal Palace train station is right outside the Park and Sports Centre. and there is a bus terminal at the top of the hill.
If you are coming from further afield, however Orbitz might be able o help you find flights or hotels:
Visitor's Book
Visited the Park? Comments on the site? Add them here!
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Reply
- tirial tirial May 5, 2009 @ 5:50 pm | in reply to kab
- No - I suspect that's one I'll need to add to my reading list!
-
Reply
- kab kab Apr 4, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
- Have you read The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins?
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