21 Men Dine Inside a Dinosaur in 1853 for New Year's Eve

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In the winter of 1853, a distinguished group of 21 men, including renowned figures like paleontologist Richard Owen and naturalist Edward Forbes, dined inside a giant Iguanodon model at the Crystal Palace in London. The event, organized by artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, was a publicity stunt to bring the emerging science of paleontology to the masses and promote the opening of the Crystal Palace and its park.

Why it matters

This unusual New Year's Eve dinner party highlights the early public fascination with dinosaurs and the efforts of pioneering scientists and artists to make paleontology accessible to the general public. The event helped drive interest in the newly relocated Crystal Palace and its groundbreaking dinosaur sculptures, which remain an iconic landmark in London today.

The details

Hawkins had a grand vision to launch his dinosaur sculptures to the world and encourage people to visit the Crystal Palace. The dinner, served in a seven-course feast, took place inside a giant Iguanodon model, with a chandelier hanging overhead and banners proclaiming the names of famous paleontologists. Despite the cold, the men enjoyed the unique dining experience, and the event was widely reported in the press, including in Charles Dickens's newspaper, The Daily News.

• In the winter of 1853, the dinner took place.
• Six months later, more than 40,000 people attended the opening of the Crystal Palace and saw Hawkins's dinosaur sculptures.

What’s next

Today, the dinosaur sculptures at the Crystal Palace are Grade I listed, and funding has been allocated for their renovation, although no men-only dinner parties are scheduled for this new year.