Opening at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmondton, Canada, from June 14 through September 14, 2008, is the exciting “Dragons: Between Science and Fiction.” The program will be bursting through the doors of the Royal Alberta Museum’s newly renovated Feature Gallery, and includes a traveling worldwide exhibition, presentations, children’s activities, a new play, and the screening of dragon documentaries and movies.

Hailing originally from France with a recent visit to the Musée de la civilisation, in Quebec City, the exhibition, both in English and French, has now come to the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmondton.

The exhibition explores the many myths and peculiarities associated with the dragon’s powerful persona, including how fossils fuelled dragon myths, the magical powers of dragons and how different cultures have imagined dragons over the centuries. More than 200 artifacts representing dozens of museums and private collections from around the world tell the tale of dragons from science to fiction and everything in between.

The list of topics from the guest lecturers includes several of interest to cryptozoology. The talks are given on Sundays, July 6 to September 7, 2008. Doors open at 1:30 pm. Presentations begin at 2 pm, with Q & A to follow.

“Here Be Dragons” is the title for the series of hot, new, family-friendly presentations. The talks are:

• The Role and Symbolism of Dragons in the Harry Potter Series ~ July 6 • Edmund Kern

• Komodo Island: Where there be Dragons ~ July 13 • Bob Johnson

• Dragons and Cryptozoology ~ July 20 • Loren Coleman

• Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts in Asian Cultures ~ July 27 • Paula Swart

• Everybody Wants – and Needs – a Dragon ~ August 3 • Joe Nigg

• Painting Dragons in their Natural Habitat ~ August 10 • William Stout

• Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science ~ August 17 • Jeff Meldrum

• Evolution and Extinction of the Dragon ~ August 24 • Peter Hogarth

• On The Track of Mokele-mbembe – Africa’s Living Dinosaur ~ August 31 • William Gibbons

• Backyard Dragons ~ September 7 • John Acorn

All activities are free with regular admission to the Museum, unless otherwise noted.

For more detailed information, see the Museum website here.