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Editorial: Diplodocus Oaklandus A dinosaur takes up residence in Panther country Friday, July 09, 1999
Yes, that really is a dinosaur along Forbes Avenue. And, no, Pittsburgh's recent heat wave, and its effect on our brains, has nothing to do with it.
The dinosaur - a Diplodocus, to be precise - is an 84-foot fiberglass model that's been erected outside the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. It's a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Diplodocus fossils in the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, an expedition financed by Andrew Carnegie. In fact, the formal name of the species is Diplodocus carnegii to honor him.
Dippy, as the model has been nicknamed, is also meant to be an attention-getter for the museum, and it is that indeed. Standing 22 feet high and weighing 3,000 pounds, the replica is a striking reminder of the Carnegie Museum's role in pioneering the acquisition and display of dinosaur fossils.
Those who feared that the display would be so huge and garish as to suggest that a sequel to "Godzilla" was being filmed in Oakland can rest easy. Driving or walking up Forbes, it's not really visible until a person is nearly at the museum. Even the color - a dark, grayish brown like nearby statues - blends in.
The model took nine months and $200,000 to build. We hope that, along with fun and excitement, the dinosaur also generates a sense of respect, particularly given its proximity to two university campuses. College high jinks may be part of Oakland life, but this is one habitat that deserves an evolving reverence.
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