Crystal Palace Dinos
@cpdinosaurs.bsky.social
🦖 Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs (charity no. 1165231)
Since 2013, promoting the long-term conservation of the Victorian palaeontological statues and the larger Geological Court at Crystal Palace Park
📧 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/
Since 2013, promoting the long-term conservation of the Victorian palaeontological statues and the larger Geological Court at Crystal Palace Park
📧 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/
89 years ago tonight, the Crystal Palace was destroyed by a huge fire. Winston Churchill declared it “the end of an age”
The Dinosaurs were spared a second extinction, as the geological court and boating lake are situated at the opposite end of Crystal Palace Park
The Dinosaurs were spared a second extinction, as the geological court and boating lake are situated at the opposite end of Crystal Palace Park
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
89 years ago tonight, the Crystal Palace was destroyed by a huge fire. Winston Churchill declared it “the end of an age”
The Dinosaurs were spared a second extinction, as the geological court and boating lake are situated at the opposite end of Crystal Palace Park
The Dinosaurs were spared a second extinction, as the geological court and boating lake are situated at the opposite end of Crystal Palace Park
Jon Lomberg was also the Design Director for the Golden Records mounted on the Voyager spacecraft, which seems a reasonable and epic way as any to close this little tangential thread
In summary, whether we like it or not, we are ALL hurtling around the galaxy at 240 kilometres per second 🥴
9/9
In summary, whether we like it or not, we are ALL hurtling around the galaxy at 240 kilometres per second 🥴
9/9
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Jon Lomberg was also the Design Director for the Golden Records mounted on the Voyager spacecraft, which seems a reasonable and epic way as any to close this little tangential thread
In summary, whether we like it or not, we are ALL hurtling around the galaxy at 240 kilometres per second 🥴
9/9
In summary, whether we like it or not, we are ALL hurtling around the galaxy at 240 kilometres per second 🥴
9/9
Disturbed Oort Cloud = visiting comets!
In Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's COMET (1985), a 30 Myr cycle of the solar system "oscillating" above and beneath the galactic plane, rather than through spiral arms, is proposed as an extinction driver
(the "late Cretaceous comet shower", by Jon Lomberg)
8/
In Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's COMET (1985), a 30 Myr cycle of the solar system "oscillating" above and beneath the galactic plane, rather than through spiral arms, is proposed as an extinction driver
(the "late Cretaceous comet shower", by Jon Lomberg)
8/
November 27, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Disturbed Oort Cloud = visiting comets!
In Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's COMET (1985), a 30 Myr cycle of the solar system "oscillating" above and beneath the galactic plane, rather than through spiral arms, is proposed as an extinction driver
(the "late Cretaceous comet shower", by Jon Lomberg)
8/
In Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's COMET (1985), a 30 Myr cycle of the solar system "oscillating" above and beneath the galactic plane, rather than through spiral arms, is proposed as an extinction driver
(the "late Cretaceous comet shower", by Jon Lomberg)
8/
Key to all of this is the Oort Cloud - a (still hypothetical) giant disc and spherical shell surrounding the solar system, consisting of possibly trillions of frozen fragments from its formation.
Does this become more "disturbed" through spiral arms?
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-scienc...
7/
Does this become more "disturbed" through spiral arms?
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-scienc...
7/
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Key to all of this is the Oort Cloud - a (still hypothetical) giant disc and spherical shell surrounding the solar system, consisting of possibly trillions of frozen fragments from its formation.
Does this become more "disturbed" through spiral arms?
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-scienc...
7/
Does this become more "disturbed" through spiral arms?
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-scienc...
7/
Here's an interesting graphic that plots the solar system's travel. Note that major extinctions occur when the solar system is within a spiral arm:
Late Ordovician/Devonian: Norma Arm
Permian-Triassic & Triassic-Jurassic: Scrutum-Centaurus Arm
End Cretaceous: Sagittarius Arm
5/
Late Ordovician/Devonian: Norma Arm
Permian-Triassic & Triassic-Jurassic: Scrutum-Centaurus Arm
End Cretaceous: Sagittarius Arm
5/
November 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Here's an interesting graphic that plots the solar system's travel. Note that major extinctions occur when the solar system is within a spiral arm:
Late Ordovician/Devonian: Norma Arm
Permian-Triassic & Triassic-Jurassic: Scrutum-Centaurus Arm
End Cretaceous: Sagittarius Arm
5/
Late Ordovician/Devonian: Norma Arm
Permian-Triassic & Triassic-Jurassic: Scrutum-Centaurus Arm
End Cretaceous: Sagittarius Arm
5/
A NASA/JPL-Caltech depiction of the Milky Way, our barred spiral galaxy of 100-400 billion stars..
Our solar system is in a minor spiral arm, the Orion Arm.
It's easy to now picture the galaxy slowly rotating like a fixed pinwheel, with our sun a life-long member of it's spiral arm, right?
2/
Our solar system is in a minor spiral arm, the Orion Arm.
It's easy to now picture the galaxy slowly rotating like a fixed pinwheel, with our sun a life-long member of it's spiral arm, right?
2/
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A NASA/JPL-Caltech depiction of the Milky Way, our barred spiral galaxy of 100-400 billion stars..
Our solar system is in a minor spiral arm, the Orion Arm.
It's easy to now picture the galaxy slowly rotating like a fixed pinwheel, with our sun a life-long member of it's spiral arm, right?
2/
Our solar system is in a minor spiral arm, the Orion Arm.
It's easy to now picture the galaxy slowly rotating like a fixed pinwheel, with our sun a life-long member of it's spiral arm, right?
2/
We will be at two free events in Crystal Palace Park, on Sun Dec 7th!
DRAWING DINOSAURS WITH EMMA THERESA JUDE
This is an observational drawing workshop (ages 16+) with Emma- an artist and geologist. All skill levels welcomed!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawing-di...
1/2
DRAWING DINOSAURS WITH EMMA THERESA JUDE
This is an observational drawing workshop (ages 16+) with Emma- an artist and geologist. All skill levels welcomed!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawing-di...
1/2
November 21, 2025 at 11:06 AM
We will be at two free events in Crystal Palace Park, on Sun Dec 7th!
DRAWING DINOSAURS WITH EMMA THERESA JUDE
This is an observational drawing workshop (ages 16+) with Emma- an artist and geologist. All skill levels welcomed!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawing-di...
1/2
DRAWING DINOSAURS WITH EMMA THERESA JUDE
This is an observational drawing workshop (ages 16+) with Emma- an artist and geologist. All skill levels welcomed!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/drawing-di...
1/2
“The Crystal Palace fireworks themselves again for the season! An elaborate set-piece of prehistoric beasts of “The Lost World””
from the Illustrated London News, 18th July 1925
Big displays by Brock’s Fireworks (usually unrelated to Nov 5th) were an annual attraction at the Palace
from the Illustrated London News, 18th July 1925
Big displays by Brock’s Fireworks (usually unrelated to Nov 5th) were an annual attraction at the Palace
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
“The Crystal Palace fireworks themselves again for the season! An elaborate set-piece of prehistoric beasts of “The Lost World””
from the Illustrated London News, 18th July 1925
Big displays by Brock’s Fireworks (usually unrelated to Nov 5th) were an annual attraction at the Palace
from the Illustrated London News, 18th July 1925
Big displays by Brock’s Fireworks (usually unrelated to Nov 5th) were an annual attraction at the Palace
We missed Godzilla Day yesterday, but here’s an exclusive, never-before-seen photo from the set at Studio Toho!
This early design was supposedly due to creator Tomoyuki Tanaka‘s sympathy/solidarity towards Crystal Palace FC being relegated from the Third Division South in the 1953-54 season…
This early design was supposedly due to creator Tomoyuki Tanaka‘s sympathy/solidarity towards Crystal Palace FC being relegated from the Third Division South in the 1953-54 season…
November 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM
We missed Godzilla Day yesterday, but here’s an exclusive, never-before-seen photo from the set at Studio Toho!
This early design was supposedly due to creator Tomoyuki Tanaka‘s sympathy/solidarity towards Crystal Palace FC being relegated from the Third Division South in the 1953-54 season…
This early design was supposedly due to creator Tomoyuki Tanaka‘s sympathy/solidarity towards Crystal Palace FC being relegated from the Third Division South in the 1953-54 season…
Aaargh, another International <insert creature> Day!
BUT, this International Sloth Day allows us to share this v rare photo from 1922 - possibly the only one that shows what the original large hands of the Megatherium looked like!
(OG vs small hands is part of current restoration discussions…)
BUT, this International Sloth Day allows us to share this v rare photo from 1922 - possibly the only one that shows what the original large hands of the Megatherium looked like!
(OG vs small hands is part of current restoration discussions…)
October 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Aaargh, another International <insert creature> Day!
BUT, this International Sloth Day allows us to share this v rare photo from 1922 - possibly the only one that shows what the original large hands of the Megatherium looked like!
(OG vs small hands is part of current restoration discussions…)
BUT, this International Sloth Day allows us to share this v rare photo from 1922 - possibly the only one that shows what the original large hands of the Megatherium looked like!
(OG vs small hands is part of current restoration discussions…)
Incredible stuff from "Dinosaurs: Fun, Fact, and Fantasy", 1982, with the voice of the legendary Derek Griffiths
October 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Incredible stuff from "Dinosaurs: Fun, Fact, and Fantasy", 1982, with the voice of the legendary Derek Griffiths
A flashback to one of our favourite photos, taken during conservation work on the standing Iguanodon back in 2015, by Lynn Hilton❤️💚
(www.lynnhilton.com)
(www.lynnhilton.com)
October 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A flashback to one of our favourite photos, taken during conservation work on the standing Iguanodon back in 2015, by Lynn Hilton❤️💚
(www.lynnhilton.com)
(www.lynnhilton.com)
A very good morning from this unimpressed glyptodon model - which was to be one of twelve real scale sculptures in Ciutadella Park, Barcelona.
Only a mammoth was completed before the project ended in 1910
(All the models are here:
mdc.csuc.cat/digital/coll...)
Only a mammoth was completed before the project ended in 1910
(All the models are here:
mdc.csuc.cat/digital/coll...)
October 14, 2025 at 8:47 AM
A very good morning from this unimpressed glyptodon model - which was to be one of twelve real scale sculptures in Ciutadella Park, Barcelona.
Only a mammoth was completed before the project ended in 1910
(All the models are here:
mdc.csuc.cat/digital/coll...)
Only a mammoth was completed before the project ended in 1910
(All the models are here:
mdc.csuc.cat/digital/coll...)
Adventures with a new birding scope!
The very top of the Crystal Palace transmitting station - the highest point in London (thanks to the 109m hill it is on)
Taken from 2.5lm away. 75x zoom, with 6x phone camera zoom
Birds do occasionally chill up there, but haven’t managed to line up a shot yet
The very top of the Crystal Palace transmitting station - the highest point in London (thanks to the 109m hill it is on)
Taken from 2.5lm away. 75x zoom, with 6x phone camera zoom
Birds do occasionally chill up there, but haven’t managed to line up a shot yet
October 9, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Adventures with a new birding scope!
The very top of the Crystal Palace transmitting station - the highest point in London (thanks to the 109m hill it is on)
Taken from 2.5lm away. 75x zoom, with 6x phone camera zoom
Birds do occasionally chill up there, but haven’t managed to line up a shot yet
The very top of the Crystal Palace transmitting station - the highest point in London (thanks to the 109m hill it is on)
Taken from 2.5lm away. 75x zoom, with 6x phone camera zoom
Birds do occasionally chill up there, but haven’t managed to line up a shot yet
The amazing @jedtaylorartist.bsky.social did this, “Jurassic Park 1854”, many years ago 👌
October 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The amazing @jedtaylorartist.bsky.social did this, “Jurassic Park 1854”, many years ago 👌
“Do not all these beings who preceded man and who are emerging from their tombs today seem like monsters?
Yet they are connected to us by original bonds”
Translated from “Le monde avant la création de l'homme” (The world before the creation of humankind), by Camille Flammarion. Art by Georges Devy
Yet they are connected to us by original bonds”
Translated from “Le monde avant la création de l'homme” (The world before the creation of humankind), by Camille Flammarion. Art by Georges Devy
October 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“Do not all these beings who preceded man and who are emerging from their tombs today seem like monsters?
Yet they are connected to us by original bonds”
Translated from “Le monde avant la création de l'homme” (The world before the creation of humankind), by Camille Flammarion. Art by Georges Devy
Yet they are connected to us by original bonds”
Translated from “Le monde avant la création de l'homme” (The world before the creation of humankind), by Camille Flammarion. Art by Georges Devy
Articles or photos that reference the condition of the Crystal Palace Dinos before 1950 are quite rare.
The caption on this photo, dated as 1924, refers them being “extracted from the mud”, which could imply a period of time where the lake also needed some attention..
The caption on this photo, dated as 1924, refers them being “extracted from the mud”, which could imply a period of time where the lake also needed some attention..
September 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Articles or photos that reference the condition of the Crystal Palace Dinos before 1950 are quite rare.
The caption on this photo, dated as 1924, refers them being “extracted from the mud”, which could imply a period of time where the lake also needed some attention..
The caption on this photo, dated as 1924, refers them being “extracted from the mud”, which could imply a period of time where the lake also needed some attention..
“The Antediluvians recognize an old acquaintance”
This cartoon appeared in Punch magazine, 27/07/1861 - linking the old age of our Dino friends with the previous appearances of the “Great Comet of 1861”
The comet is now designated C/1861 J1, and is due to return in 2267 so…see you then, yeah??
This cartoon appeared in Punch magazine, 27/07/1861 - linking the old age of our Dino friends with the previous appearances of the “Great Comet of 1861”
The comet is now designated C/1861 J1, and is due to return in 2267 so…see you then, yeah??
September 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
“The Antediluvians recognize an old acquaintance”
This cartoon appeared in Punch magazine, 27/07/1861 - linking the old age of our Dino friends with the previous appearances of the “Great Comet of 1861”
The comet is now designated C/1861 J1, and is due to return in 2267 so…see you then, yeah??
This cartoon appeared in Punch magazine, 27/07/1861 - linking the old age of our Dino friends with the previous appearances of the “Great Comet of 1861”
The comet is now designated C/1861 J1, and is due to return in 2267 so…see you then, yeah??
We undertake lots of serious historical research, but this may be the most important of all:
what in the *blue hell* was the “Hobbledeegobbledeecastle” in the Crystal Palace North Tower Gardens? Even this 1910 programme doesn’t know
(The one from 1908 simply calls it “The funniest thing on earth”)
what in the *blue hell* was the “Hobbledeegobbledeecastle” in the Crystal Palace North Tower Gardens? Even this 1910 programme doesn’t know
(The one from 1908 simply calls it “The funniest thing on earth”)
September 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
We undertake lots of serious historical research, but this may be the most important of all:
what in the *blue hell* was the “Hobbledeegobbledeecastle” in the Crystal Palace North Tower Gardens? Even this 1910 programme doesn’t know
(The one from 1908 simply calls it “The funniest thing on earth”)
what in the *blue hell* was the “Hobbledeegobbledeecastle” in the Crystal Palace North Tower Gardens? Even this 1910 programme doesn’t know
(The one from 1908 simply calls it “The funniest thing on earth”)
🚨 PARK UPDATE 🚨
Good morning everyone. Please note that the lower path along the Sedondary/reptile island is now CLOSED
The upper path is still open. From here there are restricted views of some of the sculptures, with restoration work v much underway.
The paths around the mammals are still open
Good morning everyone. Please note that the lower path along the Sedondary/reptile island is now CLOSED
The upper path is still open. From here there are restricted views of some of the sculptures, with restoration work v much underway.
The paths around the mammals are still open
September 22, 2025 at 11:06 AM
🚨 PARK UPDATE 🚨
Good morning everyone. Please note that the lower path along the Sedondary/reptile island is now CLOSED
The upper path is still open. From here there are restricted views of some of the sculptures, with restoration work v much underway.
The paths around the mammals are still open
Good morning everyone. Please note that the lower path along the Sedondary/reptile island is now CLOSED
The upper path is still open. From here there are restricted views of some of the sculptures, with restoration work v much underway.
The paths around the mammals are still open
🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL 🚨
We’ve just seen this, by creator “Menapian” - a 4,998-piece set of the Great Exhibition (1851) Crystal Palace - complete with a bonus Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaur…
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
We’ve just seen this, by creator “Menapian” - a 4,998-piece set of the Great Exhibition (1851) Crystal Palace - complete with a bonus Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaur…
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
September 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL 🚨
We’ve just seen this, by creator “Menapian” - a 4,998-piece set of the Great Exhibition (1851) Crystal Palace - complete with a bonus Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaur…
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
We’ve just seen this, by creator “Menapian” - a 4,998-piece set of the Great Exhibition (1851) Crystal Palace - complete with a bonus Megalosaurus and Ichthyosaur…
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
UK nineties nostalgia attack!!
Indie band The Wonder Stuff in front of the Megalosaurus.
This photo appeared on a postcard, and on "The BootLegged Groove Machine" album
(Hat tip to Chris Young for bringing this to our attention)
Indie band The Wonder Stuff in front of the Megalosaurus.
This photo appeared on a postcard, and on "The BootLegged Groove Machine" album
(Hat tip to Chris Young for bringing this to our attention)
September 12, 2025 at 9:08 AM
UK nineties nostalgia attack!!
Indie band The Wonder Stuff in front of the Megalosaurus.
This photo appeared on a postcard, and on "The BootLegged Groove Machine" album
(Hat tip to Chris Young for bringing this to our attention)
Indie band The Wonder Stuff in front of the Megalosaurus.
This photo appeared on a postcard, and on "The BootLegged Groove Machine" album
(Hat tip to Chris Young for bringing this to our attention)
Armoured dinosaurs have of course been on our mind, so a VERY GOOD MORNING to you from this..interesting depiction of a Hylaeosaurus - by “F.John” - from a series of cards produced by a German cocoa company, early 20th Century..
1/2
1/2
August 29, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Armoured dinosaurs have of course been on our mind, so a VERY GOOD MORNING to you from this..interesting depiction of a Hylaeosaurus - by “F.John” - from a series of cards produced by a German cocoa company, early 20th Century..
1/2
1/2
We've just seen that the Dinosaurs appear at #11 in the Independent's "17 best things to do in London with the kids this summer" article 👍
(The lower path along the Secondary/Reptile Island is still open, so all the sculptures can still be viewed ok)
www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/en...
(The lower path along the Secondary/Reptile Island is still open, so all the sculptures can still be viewed ok)
www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/en...
August 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We've just seen that the Dinosaurs appear at #11 in the Independent's "17 best things to do in London with the kids this summer" article 👍
(The lower path along the Secondary/Reptile Island is still open, so all the sculptures can still be viewed ok)
www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/en...
(The lower path along the Secondary/Reptile Island is still open, so all the sculptures can still be viewed ok)
www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/en...
It’s almost time (again) for the rescheduled Penge Festival Fete, this Saturday Aug 2nd at Royston Rec, 12-5pm
Marvel at our gazebo and giveaways, purchase t-shirts, pin badges (back in stock!) and books, and ask if any of us have actually found time to watch Jurassic World yet..😬
Marvel at our gazebo and giveaways, purchase t-shirts, pin badges (back in stock!) and books, and ask if any of us have actually found time to watch Jurassic World yet..😬
July 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
It’s almost time (again) for the rescheduled Penge Festival Fete, this Saturday Aug 2nd at Royston Rec, 12-5pm
Marvel at our gazebo and giveaways, purchase t-shirts, pin badges (back in stock!) and books, and ask if any of us have actually found time to watch Jurassic World yet..😬
Marvel at our gazebo and giveaways, purchase t-shirts, pin badges (back in stock!) and books, and ask if any of us have actually found time to watch Jurassic World yet..😬