Stan the T-Rex, a beloved exhibit at Manchester Museum for over two decades, will soon embark on a once-in-a-generation residency at Victoria Baths' Gala Pool. The 12-metre-long, 3.7-metre-tall dinosaur cast, roughly the size of a double-decker bus, will be on display from March 22 to April 19, 2027, including the Easter school holidays. This marks the first time Stan has left the museum since his installation in 2004.
A gargantuan move
Moving Stan to Victoria Baths will take a team of specialists a full week. The skeleton must be dismantled and reassembled in strict order to ensure counterbalance and prevent toppling. At 12 metres long and 3.7 metres tall, Stan is one of the museum's largest objects, and the move is described as a 'gargantuan task'.
During the residency, Stan will serve as the centrepiece for a full programme of events, details of which will be announced soon. Manchester Museum is also working on a stand-in for Stan during his absence, to be announced later this year.
Unexpected opportunities for learning
Georgina Young, acting director at Manchester Museum, said: 'Manchester Museum cares for around 4.5m objects and taking them to unexpected places creates new opportunities for learning and connection. Our Asian elephant Maharajah spent time in Piccadilly Station and we’ve taken Egyptian shabtis into schools, but Stan is our biggest, boldest move yet.'
'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people to experience this incredible Tyrannosaurus rex in an entirely different context. Not only is Victoria Baths breathtakingly beautiful but their team will bring renewed creativity to encounters with Stan.'
A T-Rex in a historic pool
Anthony Baker, CEO of the Victoria Baths Trust, added with humour: 'Victoria Baths would like to state for the record that we did not invite a T-Rex skeleton into our Grade II listed swimming pool. Stan has made his own arrangements and we are simply going along with it. He is insisting that we open our doors for free so that as many people can visit him as possible and it is very difficult to say 'no' to a giant dinosaur, especially when he asked so nicely.'
'Stan is also planning a series of unique events and activities that will take place whilst he is staying with us. He won’t tell us exactly what just yet, but he keeps calling it ‘Stan’s Programme of Amazing Events’ and waving his tiny arms excitedly. Whatever happens, we are confident that it will be lots of fun and unlike anything that anyone has ever seen. We aren’t worried about it. A T-Rex in an empty, historic pool, what could go wrong?'
About Stan the T-Rex
Stan arrived in Manchester in 2004 and is a full-size cast made from one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever found. The installation saw the dinosaur displayed as if in a flat run, in pursuit of prey, the first time a T-Rex skeleton had been displayed in this position. Named after Stan Sacrison, the avocational palaeontologist who discovered it, the fossil was excavated in South Dakota in 1992 and has since been cast many times. Estimated to be 67 million years old, the original specimen is on display at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The bones show signs of ancient battles, including a neck fracture and a cavity in the skull that appears to be from a T-Rex tooth.
