Production

Now Open Through Sunday, April 4, 2027

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids explores legends that have fascinated people for thousands of years.

Dragons, unicorns, mermaids, krakens, griffins, Bigfoot-like creatures and mythic beings have appeared in stories, artwork and traditions across cultures and continents. Where did these legendary creatures come from? What real animals, fossils and natural phenomena may have inspired them? And why do they still capture our imaginations today?

In this fantastical and educational exhibition, guests will encounter models, cultural objects, fossils and hands-on experiences that reveal the often surprising connections between nature, science and myth. Come face-to-face with a 17-foot-long dragon, walk among the tentacles of an enormous kraken, meet a unicorn and griffin, examine a replica of the infamous “Feejee mermaid” made famous by P. T. Barnum and look at the cast skull of a Gigantopithecus, a now-extinct ape connected to legends of humanlike creatures.

Guests of all ages can discover the real-world science, cultural stories and wild imagination behind the legends we love as they explore creatures of water, land and air, compare dragon traditions from around the world and create their own mythic creature through interactive activities.

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org), in collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau-Quebec; Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta; and The Field Museum, Chicago.

Exhibition content is presented in English with the option for a Spanish audio guide. Free with Museum admission.

Buy General Admission See Pricing Information
Kraken inside exhibition

Exhibition Highlights

From fire-breathing dragons to elusive unicorns, discover the fascinating creatures of myth and legend.

  • Examine the kraken, sea monsters, mermaids and other beings that inhabit the open ocean.
  • Discover a cast Protoceratops skeleton discovered by Roy Chapman Andrews.
  • Come face-to-face with a magnificent model of a 17-foot-long dragon with a wingspan of over 19 feet.
  • Explore winged mythological creatures such as the Asian phoenix, a mythical bird that appears at times of peace or to announce the birth of a virtuous emperor.
Woolly rhinoceros skull cast

Plan Your Visit

Your mythical adventure awaits! Explore the extraordinary world of dragons, unicorns, mermaids and other legendary creatures at Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids. Included with Museum general admission, this fantastical exhibition invites you to uncover the stories and mysteries behind these captivating beings.

Now open through Sunday, April 4, 2027. Plan your visit and discover a world where myth and legend come to life!

Buy General Admission Tickets