Frazier Museum welcomes “Mythic Creatures” this summer

Captivating and whimsical exhibition examines legends, natural world

Point at any spot on the globe and you’re likely to find delicately-woven, action-packed and centuries-old tales of mythical creatures. For thousands of years, humans everywhere have brought these creatures—dragons, unicorns, mermaids, Bigfoot, Loch Ness and others-- to life in eerily similar stories, songs and works of art.

Today, these creatures continue to thrill, terrify, entertain and inspire us. There’s even a category of “science,” Cryptozoology, that is dedicated to the study of these hidden animals. We seem to catch glimpses of them all around us-- hiding beneath the waves, running silently through the trees and soaring above the clouds. This summer, the Frazier History Museum welcomes an exhibition that traces the roots of the world’s most enduring mythological creatures from Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond.

“Mythic Creatures,” an eye-popping 7,500 sq. ft. exhibition produced by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), traces the origins of the extraordinary mythological creatures that have captivated hearts, inspired fear and bewitched us for centuries. Guests are invited to take a virtual journey through folklore to discover the facts behind the fables.

Some symbolize danger. Others, we think, can bring us luck or joy. Together, mythic creatures give shape to humankind's greatest hopes, fears, and most passionate dreams.

Visitors experience “Mythic Creatures” in four different environments: Creatures of the Sea, Land and Air and Dragons. They come face-to-face with the exhibition’s “actual-size” models, including a 17-foot-long dragon with 19 ft. wingspan, an over-6-foot-tall extinct primate, a 10-foot unicorn and a kraken whose 12-foot-long tentacles rise out of the floor!

Artifacts include pre-historic fossils, textiles, paintings, stone carvings, wooden sculptures and other cultural objects. “Mythic Creatures” also offers an abundance of interactive stations appropriate for all ages. Engaging activities invite guests to touch casts of a narwhal tusk, the lower jaw of a massive ape and the talon of an eagle. The exhibition presents the similarities and differences of how diverse cultures around the world depict these mysterious animals, while explaining how the beasts in these stories have taught morals, creativity and respective cultures’ values through storytelling.

“Mythic Creatures,” which is appropriate for children ages 4 and up, is on display through September 15. Admission is $18.50 for adults (18 and older), $14.50 for students (ages 14-17 and college students with I.D.), $10 for children (5-13) and free for children ages 4 and under. Discounts are available for museum members, military, seniors (60+) and groups of 20 or more. Admission to this special exhibition is optional and includes permanent gallery access.

During “Mythic Creatures,” museum operating hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesday until 8 p.m. Guests can take advantage of half off “Mythic Creatures” admission every Wednesday after 4 p.m. For more information, including member discounts, visit FrazierMuseum.org.