Wear the iconic terrapin turtles from the Terrapin Station album in each ear. One earring features the terrapin turtle playing the banjo and the other playing the tambourine.

The turtles themselves measure 1 1/8″ long by 3/4″ wide. These earrings hang about 1/2″ down from your ears.

A little piece of the mythical station.

These sterling silver Terrapin earrings bring one of the Grateful Dead’s most beloved — and most affectionately nicknamed — symbols to life. Each dancing turtle measures about 1" long, cast with playful charm.

The story behind the turtles:

The image comes from Terrapin Station, the Grateful Dead’s ninth studio album, released July 27, 1977. The title track was born out of a flash of inspiration: longtime lyricist Robert Hunter said he sat down at his typewriter during a dramatic lightning storm over San Francisco Bay and typed the words “Terrapin Station” before he even knew what they meant. Around the same time, Jerry Garcia was independently composing music that would turn out to fit perfectly. Hunter has described Terrapin Station less as a literal place and more as a mythical destination.

For the album’s cover, the band turned to artists Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse, the same duo behind their Europe ‘72artwork, who translated that ambiguous, dreamlike idea into a pair of charming dancing turtles. The image caught on almost immediately — turning up on stickers, patches, and T-shirts in the parking lots and Shakedown Street scenes that followed the band on tour. While any casual fan might recognize the Steal Your Face skull, spotting (and wearing) the Terrapin turtles are a bit more obscure.

Why you’ll love this piece:

• Sterling silver, approximately 1" per earring
• Dancing turtle design inspired by the Terrapin Station album art
• A subtle nod for the  Deadhead, not just the casual fan
• 5 in stock

Explore more from our Terrapin Collection and the rest of our Grateful Dead–inspired jewelry.