Pegasus and Dragon
{{Short description|Large metal statue in southern Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox monument
|monument_name = Pegasus and Dragon
|native_name =
|image = PEGASUS and DRAGON.jpg
|caption = Pegasus and Dragon in 2022
|location = Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
|designer = Strassacker, Germany
|type = Statue
|material = Bronze, steel
|length = {{convert|200|ft}}
|width = {{convert|115|ft}}
|height = {{convert|110|ft|abbr=on}}
|begin = April 5, 2013
|complete = December 6, 2014
|open = 2016
|dedicated_to = Pegasus and Dragon
| map_name = USA Florida
|map_image =
|map_caption =
|map_width =
|coordinates = {{coord|25.9823|-80.1406|type:landmark_region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
|extra =
}}
Pegasus and Dragon is a {{convert|110|ft|adj=on}} tall statue of Pegasus defeating a dragon in Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. It is the third-tallest statue in the United States after the Birth of the New World in Puerto Rico and the Statue of Liberty in New York. It is also the world's largest and tallest equine and European dragon statue.
Description
The Pegasus is poised with its front hoof on the neck of the dragon, which lies below the level of the equine.{{cite news|last1=McCaughan|first1=Sean|title=This Will Be Gulfstream Park's Ridiculously Huge Pegasus-Killing-Dragon Lawn Ornament|url=http://miami.curbed.com/2013/10/10/10190078/gulfstream-park-giant-pegasus-statue|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Miami Curbed|date=October 10, 2013}} The statue complex is {{convert|200|ft}} in length and {{convert|115|ft}} in width. Pegasus is made of 330 tons of steel and 132 tons of bronze. The dragon is made of 110 tons of steel and 132 tons of bronze. Pegasus will feature a 5D dome theater in a rock formation underneath it. The dragon is surrounded by musical fountains. At night the statue is home to a fountain show featuring 13 musical pieces, 350 fog nozzles, 116 water nozzles, special LED lighting and the dragon breathing fire 20 feet during the show.{{cite news|last1=Bryan|first1=Susannah|title=Pegasus lights up with Vegas-like show fountain|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-pegasus-lights-up-hallandale-20151210-story.html|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Sun Sentinel|date=December 11, 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Tim |date=2015-01-30 |title=Colossal Pegasus statue unveiled in Miami |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/colossal-pegasus-statue-unveiled-in-miami |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=The Architects’ Journal |language=en}}
Construction
The statue, based on the ideas of Frank Stronach (whose The Stronach Group owns Gulfstream Park), was announced in 2012 as part of a long-term expansion of Gulfstream Park that also included condominiums and more grandstands for the horse racing track.{{cite news|last1=McCaughan|first1=Sean|title=Gulfstream Park Plans Huge Expansion, Giant Pegasus Statue|url=http://miami.curbed.com/2012/11/29/10301398/gulfstream-park-expansion|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Miami Curbed|date=November 29, 2012}} In 2013 further details emerged showing that Pegasus was to be in the pose of stomping on a dragon. The German bronze casting company [https://www.strassacker.com/de Strassacker] designed, planned and built the sculpture in cooperation with the engineering specialist Stark, the steel manufacturing company Wendeler and a Chinese bronze casting company, which was necessary to realize the high volume of bronze pieces.{{cite web|title=Pegasus and Dragon|url=https://www.strassacker.com/dam/jcr:90ec7186-d748-4906-808a-f502d93c8eb9/PEGASUS_Projekt_Strassacker_Artikel_Naturstein.pdf|accessdate=12 March 2017}} Construction on the site started on April 5 supervised by [https://www.strassacker.com/de Strassacker] and with Skanska overseeing construction.{{cite news|title=Massive statue part of Gulfstream expansion plan|url=http://www.local10.com/news/florida/massive-statue-part-of-gulfstream-expansion-plan_20151127193833206|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Local 10 News|date=March 28, 2013}} The statue was pre-cast and shipped in from China in 23 packing containers and the steel beams were shipped in 23 shipping containers from Germany after being made by Wendeler. The project cost $30 million.{{cite news|title=Eyes on the Future: Gulfstream Plans Way to 'Move Beyond' Racing|url=http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/eyes-on-the-future-gulfstream-plans-way-to-move-beyond-racing/|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Paulick Report|date=November 5, 2013}} By December 6, 2014 construction of the statues was completed with work on the surrounding landscaping and water features remaining to be done in the summer of 2015.{{cite news|last1=Teproff|first1=Carli|title=It's no myth: A giant Pegasus at Gulfstream Park turns heads, slays dragon|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article4220938.html|accessdate=29 March 2016|work=Miami Herald|date=December 1, 2014}} Work on lighting for the fountain show and dragon's fire breath began in late 2015. The complex opened in spring 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-110foot-pegasus-living-it-up-in-south-florida|title=The 110-Foot Pegasus Living It Up In South Florida|last=Raper|first=Leigh|date=2016-04-08|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en|access-date=2020-01-13}}
References
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{{Portal bar|Florida|Mythology|Visual arts}}
Category:Bronze sculptures in Florida
Category:Buildings and structures in Broward County, Florida
Category:Colossal statues in the United States
Category:Outdoor sculptures in Florida
Category:Sculptures of dragons
Category:Sculptures of classical mythology
Category:Tourist attractions in Broward County, Florida