Iconic Dinosaur Sculptures Removed from Pacific Science Center in Seattle
- Pacific Science Center removed and dismantled its two remaining outdoor dinosaur sculptures from an empty reflecting pool in Seattle, marking the end of four decades of dinosaur displays...
- The fiberglass triceratops and stegosaurus sculptures had stood in the courtyard reflecting pool for 35 years before workers hauled them away this month, according to Julie O’Mara, director...
- Wes Stanley originally designed the giant creatures in 1968 for a planned Washington dinosaur park that was never built.
Pacific Science Center removed and dismantled its two remaining outdoor dinosaur sculptures from an empty reflecting pool in Seattle, marking the end of four decades of dinosaur displays at the museum, seattletimes.com reported.
Removal of the Seattle Icons
The fiberglass triceratops and stegosaurus sculptures had stood in the courtyard reflecting pool for 35 years before workers hauled them away this month, according to Julie O’Mara, director of marketing and membership at the center. Museum officials stated that the nearly 30-foot-long beasts were removed because of safety risks and ongoing courtyard renovations. O’Mara noted in a statement reported by seattletimes.com that the aging fiberglass figures were very fragile and had passed their useful life. Residents discovered the deinstallation process and shared photographs on social media this week showing the creatures broken into pieces and packed inside shipping containers.
Origins and History of the Sculptures
Wes Stanley originally designed the giant creatures in 1968 for a planned Washington dinosaur park that was never built. The fiberglass beasts spent roughly six years sitting in Cathy Fisher’s yard in Bellevue, where they accumulated layers of moss before the family donated them to the Pacific Science Center in 1991. Stanley repaired and cleaned the sculptures prior to their installation at the museum, where they quickly transformed into recognizable Seattle landmarks. They outlasted the museum’s main indoor exhibit, titled A Journey Through Time, which closed last September after officials decided repair costs outweighed the educational value of the aging display.
Residents Mourn Removal of Outdoor Sculptures
While the museum held a farewell party and auction when the indoor exhibit closed last year, the outdoor sculptures were removed with no public fanfare. R.B. Wick, a 40-year-old Bellingham resident who visited the museum as a child, expressed sadness over the final deinstallation after spotting photos online. Wick previously purchased the triceratops head from the indoor auction for $3,350 to display in his Bellingham shop. Meanwhile, 31-year-old Caleb Riston of Clearview is building a digital time capsule by compiling around 40 panoramic photographs of the indoor exhibit space to preserve it for future visitors.
Future Plans for the Courtyard Space
Pacific Science Center has not announced a replacement exhibit for the empty reflecting pool area as courtyard renovations continue. Museum representatives confirmed that the final outdoor dinosaurs were permanently retired due to safety risks, leaving no remaining physical dinosaur displays on the grounds.