crystal palace known series sculptures extinct animals including mammals london borough commissioned accompany great exhibition unveiled dinosaur sculptures world pre dating publication years varying degrees inaccurate modern standards models designed sculpted scientific direction sir representing latest scientific knowledge time models classed grade listed buildings extensively restored upgraded grade listed models represent genera extinct animals wide range geological ages include true mainly era mammals recent era history following closure great exhibition october crystal palace bought moved atop newly formed grounds surrounded extensively renovated turned public park ornamental gardens statues new man lakes renovation commissioned build life sized models extinct animals originally planned create extinct mammals deciding building advice sir celebrated biologist time set workshop site park built models models displayed islands acting rough timeline island era second models given realism making water level lake rise fall revealing different amounts mark launch models held dinner new year eve inside mould models benefited greatly public reaction strong allowed sale sets small versions dinosaur models priced educational use building models costly having cost cut funding planned models half finished scrapped despite protest sources including sunday newspaper observer progress reputation models declined american fossil hunter friends great injustice spoke angrily models models park fell disrepair years went process aided fire destroyed crystal palace models obscured foliage restoration animals carried time mammals island moved protected locations park exposed wear tear limestone cliff blown 1960s display totally renovated destroyed limestone cliff completely replaced large blocks limestone weighing long tons short tons rebuilt according small model number blocks replacements created missing sculptures badly damaged parts surviving models recast example animals legs modelled lead fixed bodies iron rods iron splitting lead open models elements classed grade listed buildings models extensively restored upgraded grade listed genera extinct animals represented park genera planned began build cut funding inaccurate map time shows planned locations era era represented park model rock exposure showing succession beds including coal measures limestone models based incomplete fossils found south_africa owen guess similar turtles evidence shelled recent complete fossils looked like era era represented park model rock exposure showing succession beds cretaceous models animals known fossils suitable vegetation living plants models cretaceous england resembles giant stereotype early ideas model depicted like armoured spines sides depiction large like beast long sharp spines owen noted accurately given restoration owen instructions necessarily present head model replica original head ground hill end lake models based fossils europe partly water shown land like seals owen supposed resembled better fossil evidence shows common sharks having dorsal fin fish like tail models tail flat straight backbone models eyes exposed bony plates owen large eyes great powers vision especially dusk models closely resemble basic models represent fossils original fossil found sussex wife like long slender climbing branch legs balancing tail lacking skull thumb bone nose horn nose horn particular repeatedly popular textbooks documentaries fun victorian actually owen commented horn doubtful models based owen guess lifestyle animals resembled frogs named greek frog smooth skinned based species based casts owen thought animals included ground models gigantic visually impressive park mascot working evidence fossils found england consisting mainly hip thigh bone rib owen animal believe standing like suggestion came late influence model models built cretaceous fossil discovered netherlands built head animal submerged model deep lake leaving body unseen crystal palace positioned odd place near secondary island originally visible path models represents species marine england flexible owen noted fossils germany scales feathers somewhat bird like conical teeth suggesting predatory surviving models rock originally owen correctly identified slender long thin jaws small eyes sediment found strictly marine era extinct found near paris models draw owen speculation like appearance thought related pigs models forming small herd species pleistocene built family unit male female adult male bore actual fossil long replaced moved island fallen disrepair place easily accessible original fragile irish accurate models recent geological age dying years ago able model living deer giant ground pleistocene south_america excavated fossils model built live tree subsequently grew broke model arm arm replaced later tree died model children zoo demolished models represent extinct thought like suffered wear tear models standing model longer looked like original 1960s models lying discarded bushes yards original site prior restoration bad shape removed store sources state models added later date illustrated london news illustration workshop shows background models great bird new zealand extinct extinct elephant like america planned islands completed literature popular culture novel begins description muddy streets character emphasized mention dinosaur popular work november weather mud streets waters newly retired face earth wonderful meet feet long like pioneer colour printing known crystal palace set grounds tall foreground opening wells novel ann visit sit presence green gold lake discuss future brief description surroundings impact characters children books reference dinosaur sculptures coming like including enchanted castle novel character lord mention monsters crystal palace children book don die illustrated tells story young boy lives near discovers models come life befriends names rock visit travel writer novel secret history novel narrator accidentally learns wife infidelity young son jack reveals visited company mother friend prolonged absence gathering material travel book title story novel monsters victorian girl visits fascinated prehistoric creatures line went sat plastic solo track winter self titled album children mystery fantasy features dream scene dinosaur models coming life
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs