Here, there be dragons… but only until February 2.
As part of a touring exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History, the Ela Area Public Library is showcasing "Giants, Dragons, & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures," focusing on history and legend.
Mythical creature narratives have existed for centuries, and this exhibit helps shed light on the origins of these tales, including how mythical creature legends were often based on real animals.
For example, the enormous sea monster that frightened mariners may have been the giant squid, a huge animal with an eye the size of a dinner plate. Visitors will find a model kraken rising from the library floor, tentacles extended.
Also from the sea, the spiraled tusk of a narwhal may have inspired the stories of unicorns. Visitors to the library can touch a narwhal tusk, as well as take selfies next to a beautiful “life-size” model of a unicorn.
On land, the fossils of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals like mastodons and mammoths may have influenced legends of giants in ancient Greece. Having never seen an elephant, medieval Europeans did not know to look for eyes on the side of the head. When placed side-by-side with a human skull and its forward-facing eyes, people could not fathom a mastodon skull with side-facing eyes and a large trunk in the middle. They saw a gigantic skull with a large round eyehole: the cyclops.
The exhibit spans both floors of the library and can be enjoyed via a complimentary audio tour. The exhibit is available during library hours,
Ela Area Public Library Deputy Director Natalie Ziarnik says, “This exhibit gives visitors fresh insight into the possible origins of favorite myths, stories, and legends. Visitors of all ages are invited to experience a world where science and fantasy intermingle.”
Visitors can rearrange modeled-to-scale mammoth bones to resemble a human skeleton, or build their own digital dragon that comes to life on screen. There are sculptures of mermaids and griffins, the head of a large Chinese parade dragon, as well as a cast skull of the Protoceratops dinosaur.
Special Programming Alert
Students can earn collector Mystic Medallions by attending special programs or visiting the Children’s Desk to complete an exhibit scavenger hunt. Events in January include:
- Teen Mythical Bingo (everyday).
- Author Talk with Candace Fleming regarding her children’s book, "Giant Squid." (1:30 p.m. Sunday, January 5).
- Dave DiNaso’s Reptile Show (10 a.m. Saturday, January 11).
- “Cryptozoology and Hidden Animals” with David George Gordon. (7 p.m. Wednesday, January 16: teens and adults).
- Chinese Parade Lion Dance. (1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 18).
- Mythical Mystery Quest, a hands-on life-sized “Clue”-like game. (10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 25: all ages).
About the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), sponsor of this touring exhibit: In New York City, the museum is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, AMNH has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. Its mission is “to discover, interpret, and disseminate — through scientific research and education — knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.
For more information about the Ela Area Public Library, including registration for all other programs, visit EAPL.org. The library is at 275 Mohawk Trail in Lake Zurich.
When Is the Ela Area Public Library Open?
- Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.