March 2, 2016
Blog by Wendy Wasman
Museum Librarian & Archivist
Steggie has served as the Museum's unofficial greeter for almost 50 years! But the sculpture we see outside today was not the first
Stegosaurus to stand watch over Wade Oval. The Museum’s original Steggie was created by sculptors at Louis Paul Jonas Studios in Hudson, New York. In 1964, artists at Jonas Studios were commissioned to create a group of authentic life-sized dinosaur sculptures to be used at the New York World’s Fair. The studio created a 70-foot-long
Brontosaurus, a 19-foot-high
T. rex, and a 20-foot-long
Stegosaurus, among others. In 1967, then Museum Director William Scheele commissioned Jonas Studios to create another realistic
Stegosaurus model for Cleveland.
On June 20, 1968, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Women's Committee hosted an exclusive dinner to welcome the new
Stegosaurus to town. Distinguished guests were treated to “Steak au Jurassic” and a talk by Dr. Alfred Romer, a world renowned authority on dinosaurs and the Director Emeritus of the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology. On June 22, 1968, the Museum introduced Steggie to the public at "Dinosaur Days Children’s Carnival."
Mr. Jonas in his studio putting the final touches on the clay model of Stegosaurus. The sculpted form was then ready for molding and fabrication.
Stegosaurus being 'sand blasted' before painting and final coloration.
After being sand blasted, Steggie was moved back into the studio for final coloration.
Stegosaurus dedication. Left to right - William E. Scheele, CMNH Director; Marie Odenkirk Clark, President of the Board; Dr. Alfred Romer, Harvard; Mrs. Alfred Romer; John Paul Jonas, sculptor; Mrs. J.P. Jonas
Dinosaur Days Children's Carnival June 22, 1968.
First Steggie in its original location in the 1970's
Steggie II is moved to make room for Shafran Planetarium. 2000.
After nearly 30 years of hordes of children patting its head and climbing on its back, the first Steggie retired to greener pastures in 1997. Steggie II was created from the original casts at Jonas Studios. It is identical in every way to the first Steggie: 18 feet long and 8 feet tall. The Women’s Committee welcomed the familiar dinosaur back with a “Steggie Re-Birthday Party” in September 1997. Funding for the replacement model was provided by the Key Foundation, Rosemary Henson’s second-grade class at North Madison Elementary School, John and Nancy Scharf, Shammy Waidelich and the Women’s Committee.
In November 2000, Steggie was moved from its original location to make room for the new
Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium. Steggie was returned to a prominent place near the Museum's entrance in the spring of 2001, and continues to be the first and last thing guests see when they visit our Museum.
Myriads of Museum visitors and Wade Oval guests have taken photos with Steggie during his tenure at the Museum, and we want to see them! Introducing the #SteggieSelfie. A #SteggieSelfie can be from the distant past, a recent visit, or taken and shared on the spot. Share your #SteggieSelfie and family Steggie pics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we'll create a photo gallery of our favorite shots on this page.
Be sure to take new #SteggieSelfie pictures soon, because Steggie II is planning his first-ever Spring Break vacation! He'll be visiting our scientists' research locations across the globe. You can follow Steggie's travels by searching #WhereisSteggie on Instagram starting mid to late March. We expect Steggie will return home to Cleveland, refreshed and rested, by early April.
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