Pegasus and Dragon explained

Monument Name:Pegasus and Dragon
Location:Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States
Designer:Strassacker, Germany
Type:Statue
Material:Bronze, steel
Height:100feet
Begin:April 5, 2013
Complete:December 6, 2014
Open:2016
Dedicated To:Pegasus and Dragon
Map Name:USA Florida
Coordinates:25.9823°N -80.1406°W

Pegasus and Dragon is a 110feet 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. The Pegasus is poised with its front hoof on the neck of the dragon, which lies below the level of the equine.[1] The statue complex is in length and 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.[2]

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.[3] In 2013 further details emerged showing that Pegasus was to be in the pose of stomping on a dragon. The German bronze casting company 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.[4] Construction on the site started on April 5 supervised by Strassacker and with Skanska overseeing construction.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] Work on lighting for the fountain show and dragon's fire breath began in late 2015. The complex opened in spring 2016.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: McCaughan. Sean. This Will Be Gulfstream Park's Ridiculously Huge Pegasus-Killing-Dragon Lawn Ornament. 29 March 2016. Miami Curbed. October 10, 2013.
  2. News: Bryan. Susannah. Pegasus lights up with Vegas-like show fountain. 29 March 2016. Sun Sentinel. December 11, 2015.
  3. News: McCaughan. Sean. Gulfstream Park Plans Huge Expansion, Giant Pegasus Statue. 29 March 2016. Miami Curbed. November 29, 2012.
  4. Web site: Pegasus and Dragon. 12 March 2017.
  5. News: Massive statue part of Gulfstream expansion plan. 29 March 2016. Local 10 News. March 28, 2013.
  6. News: Eyes on the Future: Gulfstream Plans Way to 'Move Beyond' Racing. 29 March 2016. Paulick Report. November 5, 2013.
  7. News: Teproff. Carli. It's no myth: A giant Pegasus at Gulfstream Park turns heads, slays dragon. 29 March 2016. Miami Herald. December 1, 2014.
  8. Web site: The 110-Foot Pegasus Living It Up In South Florida. Raper. Leigh. 2016-04-08. Atlas Obscura. en. 2020-01-13.