Dragons of The New World
Natives had their own versions of dragons, and colonists brought over their own as well. Dragons in the Americas aren't so different from those found in Europe. They are large scaly beasts with wings. Some are serpents with feathered wings. Others yet are creatures that lurk below the murky depths of lakes and oceans. Dragons of the United States take inspiration from those of European stories. However, Natives in both North and South America have their own dragons that are serpentine in nature, often being large snakes with wings or horns.
Fraktur Dragon
1800's, Pennsylvania Dutch
Fraktur art, otherwise known as folk art, was a common form of art from 1740 to 1860. The Dutch and Germans of Pennsylvania were the ones who primarily practiced it, and much of their own culture can be seen in their works. The art would depict an array of things, from animals to mythical beasts, and many would contain text. Birds, angels, and people on horses are the most commonly found motifs. The most notable feature is the unique style of writing, which included a fractured style of font and colorful images.
Snallygaster
Clipping from a local newspaper
The Snallygaster first appeared in the 1730's, being originally called Schneller Geist, German for "quick ghost." It was then described as a half bird half reptile creature using features of ghosts and demons. It had a metallic beak lined with teeth, and sometimes had tentacles. It had the wings and talons of a bird with the body and head of a snake. It was said that they would feed on the blood of their victims, and that a seven pointed star would keep it at bay. It is suggested that the story of the Snallygaster was revived in the nineteenth century to send fear among freed slaves. It's earliest sightings were listed in Frederick County, Maryland, and later in Central Maryland and Washington, DC. In 1900's, more sightings were listed, and was described to have metallic claws and a long pointed beak, with one eye in the center of it's forehead. Nowadays it is used as a popular image associated with Frederick County, and has been included in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe.
Champ the Lake Monster
Artistic representation of Sandra Mansi's 1977 photograph of "Champ" monster. Illustration by Benjamin Radford/Wikipedia
Lake and sea monsters can be considered Sea Dragons, as they follow a number of the typical draconic traits. They often have reptilian heads with scaled reptile-skinned bodies. They can be found across many countries, and the United States has it's fair share. Champ of Lake Champlain is one such lake monster, being described as having four flippers, a horse like head, and as being a reptilian creature of slimy grey skin that can reach twenty to forty feet long.
Horned Serpent
Photographer: Brian C. Lee/Wikipedia
Horned Serpent, Western San Rafael Swell, Utah
The Horned Serpent can be seen throughout many of the United States Native American groups. They are most prominent in the South Eastern woodland and the Great Lakes. The Alabama people have what's called the tcinto såktco or "crawfish snake", of which they divide into several categories based on their horns and colors which can be blue, white, yellow, or red. The Yuchi people would make effigies out of deer hide that they painted blue and deer horns that they painted yellow, and the serpent would symbolize disease, rainbows, storms, thunder, and lightning. Horned serpents can also be found in Celtic, Greek, and Mesopotamian cultures.
Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl in feathered-serpent form as depicted in the Codex Telleriano-Remensis
Better known as the "feathered serpent" Quetzalcoatl is a powerful deity in the Aztec religion. There are several versions of the myth of his birth, some starting with a virgin named Chimalman, one starting with Coatlicue, and another staring with him being born as one of the four cardinal directions, signifying the West, light, justice, mercy, and wind. It is said that Quetzalcoatl went to Mictlan, the underworld, and took the bones of the five previous races of man to create the next race mixed with his own blood. On the way back, it is believed that the bones broke, and that is why people come in different heights. While not believed in so much anymore, the feathered serpent has been used and popularized in media and art.
Xiuhcoatl
Photographer: Rosemania/wikipedia
These divine beast is part of the ancient Aztec religion. He is often depicted as a serpent with his top snout pulled back, his body wrapped and knitted in paper, and a tail with the Aztec symbol for grass. The body wrapped in paper links him to the Aztec practice of blood letting and sacrifices. He is described as a fire serpent, and is associated with grass, turquoise, and the solar year.
Kukulkon
Photography by: Frank Kovalchek, Serpent head at the base of El Castillo, Chichen Itza
This great serpent was worshiped by the Yucatec Mayans who lived in the Yucatán Peninsula. It can be seen depicted with a warrior coming out of the snakes mouth, representing the Maya Vision Serpent. It was initially the Vision Serpent, but came to be the head of the religious pantheon of a cult, as well as being associated with the head of the Itza state. At El Castillo, when shadows cats just right it appears as if the serpent is descending the staircase. There are many stories of Kukulkon told by the Yucatec Maya, even today.