The Natural History Museum’s famous Diplodocus is leaving the museum for the first time to go a on a tour of the UK and Rochdale has been selected as 1 of just 8 venues which will host him during the tour.
The iconic exhibit will start his tour in 2018 and will take pride of place in the award-winning Number One Riverside, from February to June 2020.
The main aim of the tour is to inspire the next generation of scientists by giving them access to fantastic, nationally-important exhibits like Dippy.
A selection of activities for both young and old will be organised to coincide with Dippy’s visit to Rochdale, his only stop in the North West of England.
In partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, we aim to engage thousands of children and adults from across the whole region and we'll keep you posted on our activity programme as it develops.
Who is Dippy?
Dippy is a replica of a Diplodocus, which was unearthed in Wyoming, North America, in 1898. The original Diplodocus, which is thought to be between 152 and 154 million-years-old, is in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, North America.
A replica, now known as Dippy, was created and first unveiled to the public at the Natural History Museum in London in 1905. He’s wowed millions of visitors from around the world ever since.
You can find out more about Dippy’s story on the Natural History Museum website
Dippy on tour timetable
| When | Where |
| January - May 2018 | Dorset County Museum |
| May - September 2018 | Birmingham Gas Hall |
| September 2018 - January 2019 | Belfast National Museum |
| January - May 2019 | Glasgow Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery |
| May - October 2019 | Newcastle Great North Museum |
| October - January 2019 | National Assembly of Wales |
| February - June 2020 | Rochdale Number One Riverside |
| July - November 2020 | Norwich Cathedral |
Get involved
We'd love to work with organisations from across the region, including museums, schools and universities, to ensure as many people as possible can see Dippy in Rochdale and we can raise the profile of science and natural history.
Sponsorship packages are available for businesses who'd like to get involved in our celebration. Contact us to find out more.