Chicago’s Field Museum will be hosting “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns, & Mermaids” from 21 March to 1 September 2008. The exhibition debuted at New York’s Museum of Natural History, and we reviewed it in this article last August (the exhibit in New York ran from 26 May 2007 to 6 January 2008). Now the residents of Chicago will get a chance to marvel at human imagination and the mythical creatures it has created through the ages.
The Field’s write-up says “Since the dawn of time, creatures of the unknown have fascinated cultures the world over. From medieval fire-breathing dragons to the magical powers of the unicorn, mythic creatures have captured the imagination. Now, examine the legend and the science behind some of the most fascinating creatures ever invented. Enter the fabled world of dragons, journey to the depths of the ocean and soar above the clouds to uncover the origins of the powerful, dangerous and magical beings that have been a part of the human experience for thousands of years. Preserved specimens, cultural artifacts and works of art highlight the surprising similarities and differences in the way people around the world have envisioned these myths. Today, mythic creatures continue to live on in the everyday lives of many cultures—and soon they will live at The Field Museum.”
The Field Museum, Chicago’s museum of natural history, is located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605. For more information on the museum or the exhibition, call 312-922-9410 or see fieldmuseum.org.