Specimen conservation

Explore the story of how our biggest specimen was moved to its current home. 

Almost two centuries after Charles Darwin’s pioneering voyage, his specimens are still inspiring groundbreaking new science.

It takes time, endless patience and skill to transform a fossil into a museum-worthy exhibit. 

Discover the story of the 11-tonne fossil that’s been welcoming our visitors since 1887.

Find out why our conservators worked on Britain's most famous panda.

Discover the important contributions made by one of London’s first woman geologists.

Women working with Museum collections share what they love about their jobs, and their advice for budding curators.

Find out what it takes to care for an enormous, scientifically irreplaceable fish.

Meet the brightly coloured sea slugs committing serial stinging-cell crimes.

Discover how Iguanodon’s true identity was finally revealed.

Minerals may look tough, but getting these crystals from ground to display case needs a very steady hand.

Resin deer lungs, a warthog and a pterosaur fossil are just a few of the curious specimens to be found in Hintze Hall.

Moving a dinosaur is never easy. Watch as Museum conservators pack Dippy the Diplodocus into boxes, one bone at a time.

How do you conserve an ancient wedge of giant tree? With solvent, buckets of resin and a lot of patience.

Lorraine Cornish, Head of Conservation, prepares to dismantle the Diplodocus skeleton.

Watch a Museum conservator reposition the delicate skeleton of Napoleon's horse, Marengo.

Follow the journey of a large shark specimen from a beach in Northumberland to being sealed in our spirit collection.