From the mythic to the real

Stories can unite cultures oceans apart, and despite the distance between countries as different as England and China, common threads like the presence of dragons in their mythology show all people share a love of the fantastic.

The new exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science takes a deep dive into the world of mythic creatures, from dragons and griffins to chupacabras and mermaids.

“Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids” runs at the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 7.

“This exhibit highlights the real organisms and fossils these animals might be based on,” said Paula Cushing, curator of invertebrate zoology and of the exhibit. “These cultures from all over the world are so different, but they are connected in these myths.”

The exhibit tells the tales of these storied animals through cultural objects, from coins circa 600 BC that feature Pegasus to maps of the new world, full of images of the monsters the intrepid traveler must face. The exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago; Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; and Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta.

Some of the most interesting pieces come from the museum’s archives, such as the egg of the now extinct Aepyornis (“elephant bird”), an enormous ostrich-like bird from Madagascar. The bird laid the largest eggs in the world, and the one on display from the museum is the first one to reach America.

By looking at the many ways scientific knowledge has changed people’s perception of mysterious animals and fossils, visitors are able to trace how elephant skulls went from being proof of Cyclops or narwhal tusks being proof of unicorns to the modern scientific specimens they are today.

There are also creatures created purely for attention, like the “Feejee mermaid,” a monkey torso sewn onto a fish tail, made famous by P.T. Barnum.

“Mythic Creatures” brings these animals to life through some larger-than-life statues and models –; from a full-sized unicorn and 17-foot-long dragon to a 10-foot-tall kraken and Roc –; an enormous eagle-like bird.

The museum specializes in bringing its exhibits to life for children, and this is no exception. There is a “create your own mythic creature” station where children can use different animal part stencils to create their own magical animals.

“They can give it a name and create every aspect of their animal,” Cushing said. “It’s a fun way to get across the message of the exhibit and it makes it more dynamic. Adults love these kinds of stations, too.”

“Mythic Creatures” is a great opportunity to take ideas that nearly everyone has grown up with, and see them come to life.

“It’s so much fun to go through, and the objects and statues are just stunning,” Cushing said. “Through all of it we can see the role mythic elements played in so many cultures.”

For more information, call 303-370-6000 or visit dmns.org.

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