Who slayed our dragon?

Sharp eyed visitors to Eureka! may have noticed something’s changed this week: our Chinese dragon, who guards the fire exit from Me and My Body has been beheaded!

Before you ask, security hasn’t detained any wandering St. Georges. Instead it’s an explanation that’s a bit less magical. He’s quite an old dragon, you see, who has been here since the museum opened. Just over 18 years of weather and wear have taken its toll and early last weekend the metal supports which held him up finally collapsed. His scales were removed and he was taken in state to a new resting place in our Loading Bay, where he is awaiting appraisal. You can see the damaged support below, 18 years of wear on the metal has made it very crumbly.

My what big teeth you have!

Until the dragon’s head returns, I thought I would share some fun facts about him.

• The dragon was designed to cover the fire escape stairs that lead down from a balcony off of Me and My Body.
• Our dragon doesn’t actually have a name; as a creature of imagination it’s only fair that we let you, the visitor, make him come alive for yourself.
• Our dragon has been the inspiration for workshops and events for as long as the museum has been open: he’s seen Chinese lion and dragon dancers and has been the face of our ‘Dragon’s Mouth’ school workshops. 
• The dragon is now something of a celebrity. Even the Dragon's Den liked the idea of him and filmed him at the end of one of their roadtests. Maybe that's what went to his head!

Dragon & friends back in 1993 for the 'Dragon's Mouth' workshop

But you know, our dragon’s disappearance may have another explanation, especially since Eureka! is such a magical place. Being August, and a rather drought-filled one at that (in spite of weather appearing to the contrary!) it’s important to keep health and safety concerns in mind, especially when dealing with animals known for their flammable nature. So, with a few cosmetic repairs required already, we thought this was the perfect time to schedule our dragon’s annual maintenance for fire breathing capacity. After all, a healthy dragon is a happy dragon, and happy dragons aren’t naughty people-crispers.