GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM, AZ (AZFamily) — A beloved, historic sculpture from the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, thought to be lost forever due to the Dragon Bravo Fire, is safe and on the move.
According to the Grand Canyon National Park Service, Brighty the Burro partially survived the flames of the massive wildfire. Crews took photos with the sculpture with most of the top half intact.
NPS said he is getting ready for his journey to the South Rim, where he’ll call the agency’s Museum Collection home. Specialists will assess his condition and figure out if he can be restored to his former glory, or if a new version will take his place at the Grand Canyon Lodge.
Nearly a month ago, the Grand Canyon Historical Society shared an image on Facebook that appeared to show Brighty badly burned.
The bronze burro, dedicated to a real-life donkey who lived in the Grand Canyon in the early 1900s, had been in the lodge for more than 50 years, with hikers often rubbing its nose before heading onto a hike.
It’s unclear when the fate of the sculpture will be decided. “One thing’s for sure, Brighty’s legacy as a North Rim icon will live on,” park officials said.
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