Chupacabras, dragons, sea monsters—oh my!
In the Witte Museum’s latest exhibit, Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, guests will encounter both the sometimes-intimidating and the fantastical creatures of folklore. Open Saturday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 12, the traveling exhibit by the American Museum of Natural History in New York delves into the history, culture and science that led to some of the most popular imaginary creatures.
“It’s where nature, science and culture meet,” said Marise McDermott, Witte Museum president and CEO. Plus, she added, “Who doesn’t love dragons, unicorns and mermaids?”
Broken into sections that explore creatures from water, land and sky, the exhibit includes both largescale creations of imaginary figures—including a 12-foot kraken and 17-foot-long dragon—as well as fossils that are believed to have inspired some mythical creatures and historical artifacts that point to the cultures behind the tales.
Thomas Adams, Ph.D., curator of paleontology and geology, said before the development of archeology and paleontology as sciences, misinterpretations of fossils and artifacts may have fueled the legends of many imaginary figures.
A lower jaw fossil from the now-extinct gigantopithecus that’s on display, for example, could have been interpreted years ago as a clue that Big Foot exists while Pterosaurs dinosaur fossils could easily have been seen as evidence that dragons walk the earth.
Along with fossils, Adams said the exhibit includes a diverse array of histories and cultures that led to the mythical creatures popular today—from the horned unicorn that dates back to ancient Greece to aboriginal Australian mermaid myths to legends of griffins that are believed to have come from the Gobi Desert some 2,000 years ago.
McDermott and Adams said they expect the exhibition to be popular among children, including those who’ve already come to the museum wearing unicorn horns and dragon wings, but it also has plenty of appeal to adults. “We all still have that sense of wonder,” Adams said.
4 Special Events Not to Miss
Nov. 9 Super Saturday: Families are invited to talk with the experts about the exhibit, conduct their own science experiments and craft a keepsake to take home.
Nov. 25& 26: Witte Museum Camp: Mythic Creatures Play in a Day is a one-day drama and myths workshop presented with The Classic Theatre.
Dec. 8: Sensory Sunday: Kids who have sensory processing differences are invited for a Sunday tour that will include smaller crowds, changes to lights and sounds in the exhibit, sensory-friendly activities and a quiet space.
Dec. 30-Jan. 3: Witte Museum Camp: Make reservations for your kids, ages 6-12, to spend the end of their winter break learning to separate fact from fiction when it comes to fantastical creatures.
Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids
Sept. 28-Jan. 12
Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, wittemuseum.org/mythic-creatures