Ben Miller
@extinctmonsters.bsky.social
Mostly posts about the art history of paleontology in museums. Exhibit developer at the Field Museum, opinions my own. Proudly from DC. he/him
Website: extinctmonsters.net
Website: extinctmonsters.net
Owen had the skeleton remounted with proper mastodon proportions, and it's been on near-continuous display ever since.
November 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Owen had the skeleton remounted with proper mastodon proportions, and it's been on near-continuous display ever since.
This handsome mastodon on display in London is one and the same as Missourium, a chimeric super-mastodon created by showman Albert Koch in 1840. Multiple skeletons were combined to extend its length to 40 feet, and the tusks were mounted sideways so they looked like aggressive tusks.
November 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This handsome mastodon on display in London is one and the same as Missourium, a chimeric super-mastodon created by showman Albert Koch in 1840. Multiple skeletons were combined to extend its length to 40 feet, and the tusks were mounted sideways so they looked like aggressive tusks.
This label at the NHM is nice but it’s striking how tiny it is. However, holding and prominently advertising a gender and sex diversity tour is pretty cool!
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
This label at the NHM is nice but it’s striking how tiny it is. However, holding and prominently advertising a gender and sex diversity tour is pretty cool!
Genuinely impressed by how the small Hunterian and Horniman museums have managed to position themselves as agents for positive social change while owning up to their monstrous origins.
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Genuinely impressed by how the small Hunterian and Horniman museums have managed to position themselves as agents for positive social change while owning up to their monstrous origins.
This thing reallly ought to be the centerpiece of NHM’s new dinosaur hall when it opens in 5-10 years. Sophie seems kind of lonely out by the secondary entrance!
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
This thing reallly ought to be the centerpiece of NHM’s new dinosaur hall when it opens in 5-10 years. Sophie seems kind of lonely out by the secondary entrance!
Sophie is pretty extraordinary: both as a fossil (I believe still one of only 3 substantially complete Stegosaurus ever found) and as a display. The mount by Brock Sisson really captures the vibe an angry, cornered, not-especially-bright reptile.
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Sophie is pretty extraordinary: both as a fossil (I believe still one of only 3 substantially complete Stegosaurus ever found) and as a display. The mount by Brock Sisson really captures the vibe an angry, cornered, not-especially-bright reptile.
One of these is a picture of the very first scientifically recognized dinosaur fossils (Iguanodon teeth), collected by the Mantells in 1820. I’m not sure which because they appear in two different galleries and neither is labeled as a cast. #FossilFriday
November 7, 2025 at 6:59 PM
One of these is a picture of the very first scientifically recognized dinosaur fossils (Iguanodon teeth), collected by the Mantells in 1820. I’m not sure which because they appear in two different galleries and neither is labeled as a cast. #FossilFriday
Not much to see at crystal palace. I knew that it would be closed off but wanted to make the pilgrimage anyway. I did see a London ring-necked parakeet though!
November 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Not much to see at crystal palace. I knew that it would be closed off but wanted to make the pilgrimage anyway. I did see a London ring-necked parakeet though!
I actually barely looked at the Elgin marbles because I was so taken aback the the unbelievable scale and (undoubtedly) expense of the Duveen gallery that houses them. It looks like an effort not to match but exceed the splendor of the Parthenon itself.
November 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I actually barely looked at the Elgin marbles because I was so taken aback the the unbelievable scale and (undoubtedly) expense of the Duveen gallery that houses them. It looks like an effort not to match but exceed the splendor of the Parthenon itself.
The narration script is also excellent. I wish I had a copy to read over! Seeing PP scenes that have been streaming for several years may not be worth $33—your mileage will vary.
November 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The narration script is also excellent. I wish I had a copy to read over! Seeing PP scenes that have been streaming for several years may not be worth $33—your mileage will vary.
Saw the Lightroom Prehistoric Planet show. Pretty cool, especially when dinosaurs were shown at life size. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a life-sized T. rex in full running motion before!
November 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Saw the Lightroom Prehistoric Planet show. Pretty cool, especially when dinosaurs were shown at life size. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a life-sized T. rex in full running motion before!
wow it’s like a museum studies class come to life
November 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
wow it’s like a museum studies class come to life
Ravens: they’re very large
November 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Ravens: they’re very large
Saurischians
(The pigeons must like this spot, they’ve been there every time I’ve been through here)
(The pigeons must like this spot, they’ve been there every time I’ve been through here)
November 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Saurischians
(The pigeons must like this spot, they’ve been there every time I’ve been through here)
(The pigeons must like this spot, they’ve been there every time I’ve been through here)
I was not warned how weird the writing in the mammal hall was. These displays rule
November 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I was not warned how weird the writing in the mammal hall was. These displays rule
Darwin seated in the light vs Owen hidden in the dark is such a fascinating choice
November 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Darwin seated in the light vs Owen hidden in the dark is such a fascinating choice
Fortunately, the rest of the NHM is pretty spectacular!
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fortunately, the rest of the NHM is pretty spectacular!
This exhibit is worse than I could have ever imagined. I actually had a really fun time discovering all the ways it could disappoint me! 😂
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This exhibit is worse than I could have ever imagined. I actually had a really fun time discovering all the ways it could disappoint me! 😂
In London! New Dippy looks great
November 4, 2025 at 9:51 AM
In London! New Dippy looks great
Hey Ernestine, I’m cold too
November 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Hey Ernestine, I’m cold too
Heads up that the Field Museum is hiring a vertebrate paleontology collections manager: www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/care...
November 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Heads up that the Field Museum is hiring a vertebrate paleontology collections manager: www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/care...
somebody didn’t want to eat his greens without an audience today
November 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
somebody didn’t want to eat his greens without an audience today
Ok we’ve had our fun now let’s get back to what actually matters here
November 2, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Ok we’ve had our fun now let’s get back to what actually matters here
And the large North American natural history museum with the highest percentage of real fossil skeletons on display, at 85%? The NHM of Los Angeles County.
October 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
And the large North American natural history museum with the highest percentage of real fossil skeletons on display, at 85%? The NHM of Los Angeles County.
Field Museum of Natural History: 79%.
October 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Field Museum of Natural History: 79%.