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28 October 2014

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You are in: London > History > Crystal Palace > The dinosaurs

A megalosaur

The dinosaurs

Discover the Victorian 'Jurassic Park' set in South London

Barry Gibbs
We are trying to build a life size replica of iguanadon and wonder if you could detail the construction specifications for the statues you have any help would be appresiated

Restoration work

Restoration work

Duncan Shadie
without a doubt my favourite place in london...

molly e. - age 4 USA
I like the dinosaurs. I read a book about them.

The world's first 'Dinosaur Park' was opened in 1854 at Crystal Palace Park and caused outrage to some with its theory of evolution, as depicted in the dinosaur models.

The dinosaur park was built six years before Darwin himself had published his Origin of Species.

Dinosaurs at crystal Palace

The amazing dinosaurs

Sir Joseph Paxton, who constructed Crystal Palace Park, collaborated with a team of eminent and visionary men to incorporate within its layout the world's first prehistoric sculptures.

This included the renowned Victorian scientist and Professor of Anatomy Richard Owen, who first termed the phrase Dinosauria meaning 'Terrible Lizards'.

The sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins worked with Paxton and Owen, among others, to create the dinosaurs known at that time.

The display and landscape area depicted a journey through prehistoric time.

There were life-size dinosaur statues together with other prehistoric reptiles and mammals, and examples of geology, spanning 350 million years of Britain's evolution.

The park has recently re-opened with the dinosaur models and landscape returned to its former glory.

The restoration programme was made possible by contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Government's SRB scheme and Bromley Council.

The meticulous restoration has involved painstaking work by palaeontologists, landscape architects and palaeobotanists.

The dinosaurs original colours were carefully researched and have been re-applied as closely as possible.

Repairs or replacement of the models and geological exhibits match those originally used. Two new Pterodactyls and a Limestone Cliff have been reconstructed, according to historic records.

The dinosaur park is free to visitors and is found at the South end of the park near the main entrance on Thicket Road.

Address
Crystal Palace Park
Thicket Road
Penge
London SE20 8DT

Contacts
Information Centre (Park Rangers Office)
Telephone: 020 8778 9496

Your views

Barry Gibbs
We are trying to build a life size replica of iguanadon and wonder if you could detail the construction specifications for the statues you have any help would be appresiated

Duncan Shadie
without a doubt my favourite place in london...

molly e. - age 4 USA
I like the dinosaurs. I read a book about them.

last updated: 09/04/2008 at 14:59
created: 10/08/2004

You are in: London > History > Crystal Palace > The dinosaurs



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