Temporary exhibit at The Schiele Museum makes a wish come true

GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Schiele Museum of Natural History received a temporary new exhibit that was a little out of the ordinary. An animatronic dragon was on display at the museum for one day only in order to fulfill a wish for a local woman.

The Schiele hosted a day of free admission for Make-A-Wish families that brought Mary Grace Riddell face-to-face with a dragon that she had imagined as a teen while undergoing a series of medical procedures.

Mary Grace loves to draw and write. She creates stories that center around a special character – a dragon named Eclipse. When she was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Central & Western North Carolina in 2021, Mary Grace’s dream was to see Eclipse come to life.

After several years of problems and delays, the local Make-A-Wish chapter approached Billings Productions, Inc., an animatronic company in Texas. Although they typically build dinosaurs, Billings graciously agreed to construct a dragon based on Mary Grace’s drawings of Eclipse. When it neared completion, Make-A-Wish staff asked The Schiele Museum to host the big reveal.

We were proud to host this special family on a special day. Who doesn’t love a story with a brave queen, an incredible dragon, and a happy ending?
Tiffani Stewart, Marketing Coordinator at The Schiele