Assembling the Dinosaur: Fossil Hunters, Tycoons, & the Making of a Spectacle

‘A brilliant, original history of dinosaurs set within the landscape of American science, capitalism, and culture. Rieppel integrates the practices and ambitions of vertebrate paleontologists, the patronage they found among wealthy industrialists, and the public’s fascination with these colossal creatures from the deep past—from the discovery of fossil remains in the American West at the turn of the twentieth century through their assembly in emergent museums of natural history. Resting on extensive archival research and apt illustrations, Assembling the Dinosaur is an altogether authoritative and captivating work.’—Daniel J. Kevles, Living Properties: Making Knowledge and Controlling Ownership in the History of Biology

‘This innovative book reinterprets the discovery of dinosaurs in the American West as a compelling aspect of the country’s culture at a time of dramatic economic expansion. Highly recommended as a stimulating account of science during the Gilded Age and beyond.’—Janet Browne, author of Charles Darwin: Voyaging

‘The nineteenth century saw the simultaneous rise of industrial capitalism and the discovery of dinosaurs. These hulking creatures, expensive to excavate and to display, became a perfect match for the self-presentation of the rising economic elite in the United States. Connecting the history of capitalism and the history of science, this important book traces how the shifting presentation of these fossils—from massive, slow moving, and solitary to agile and social—mirrored the transition from giant corporations to nimble startups.’—Sven Beckert, author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History

‘Resting on broad erudition and an expansive historical imagination, Assembling the Dinosaur explores the relationship of science, culture, and economy in the Gilded Age. It is a unique contribution to our understanding of the making of modern America.’—Michael Zakim, author of Accounting for Capitalism: The World the Clerk Made