Dragons, unicorns and mermaids, oh my! Explore the pets from legends of yore in the Mythic Creatures exhibit at Fernbank Museum. All Spring long, you can view artifacts and learn the truth about the beasts and beauties of long-lost cultures.

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Through Aug. 19

Did you know that lonely sailors used to make "mermaids" by stitching the head and torso of a monkey to the tail of a fish? This is just one of many fascinating facts found in Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids. Continuing a streak of stellar exhibits, Fernbank brings your imagination to life once again with this legendary showcase. Filled with beasts both wicked and whimsical, the museum explodes with the colorful tales (and tails) of creatures from ancient cultures! By exploring fossils and replicas as well as cultural origins, this exhibit focuses on both the factual and fictional roots of our favorite fabled beings, including the real-life creatures which inspired them.

With numerous videos, interactive stations and fun facts throughout the exhibit, Mythic Creatures is a great option for younger and older kids, as well as adults. Visitors of all ages will get a kick out of the digital Build Your Own Dragon station, where you watch your creation come to life. Adults and older kids will enjoy interviews with authors and artists who create today's mythic monsters, while younger kids will love touching the castings of a narwhal tusk and Gigantopithecus jaw bone. (Oh my, did that poor guy have some serious cavities!) Plus, what's not to love about an enormous teal dragon or prancing unicorn?