Iconic Convos: Erasmus the Rooftop Dragon

Columns
Written By Nicole Bearden

If you spend time in historical Downtown Renton, you will likely run across our next guest—just look up. Erasmus the Rooftop Dragon landed atop a crooked little building in 2019. Since then, the city of Renton has embraced Erasmus, holding the annual Dragon’s Landing festival every April to commemorate his arrival.

Nicole Bearden (NB): I’m excited to chat today, Erasmus. I’ve never had the pleasure of speaking with a dragon before.

Erasmus the Rooftop Dragon (ERD): The honor is yours, I’m sure.

NB: Sure. [side-eyes giant dragon] How did you come to make your home here in Renton, Erasmus? May I call you Erasmus, by the way?

ERD: You may. [two tiny puffs of smoke erupt from his snout as he snorts] When I set out to find a new home, I turned off all other senses, and followed a…deep, pulling sensation. Something was calling me here, guiding me along, as if a string was attached to my very soul. When I perched upon this nondescript, topsy-turvy building, the pressure vanished—I had returned home! Since that time, Renton has been most welcoming, so it seems I made a fine choice.

black and white portrait of Erasmus Smithers, founder of Renton

Erasmus Smithers (portrait)

MOHAI

NB: Fascinating. And your name is Erasmus, after Erasmus Smithers, right? The founder of Renton?

ERD: My name has always been Erasmus. Whether it is in honor of Smithers, or because I have a more…personal relationship, I really cannot say.

NB: A more personal….? Are you saying you are related to Erasmus Smithers? The not-dragon, definite-human founder of Renton?

ERD: Oh ho ho, “definite”, hmm? Did you ever meet Erasmus Smithers? I can already tell you that you did NOT. Ask me how I know.

NB: I mean, he died 120 years ago, and since my age is much less than that, I’m going to say nope. But I am curious as to what you meant.

ERD: Curiosity killed the writer, you know.

NB: I don’t think that’s the saying.

ERD: In any case, I am not able to say more, but suffice to say that humans don’t know everything, and that sometimes those who look human, are, in fact, dragons. Or something.

NB: Come on. You can’t seriously expect me to believe that you ARE Erasmus Smithers, and that over a century ago, you founded Renton, left, and have now returned in the form of a dragon overseeing the town?!

ERD: [examines shining claws] Believe what you like. I shall neither confirm, nor deny. Shall we proceed to speak of other matters?

banner from 2025's Dragon's Landing celebration with Erasmus

Banner for Dragon’s Landing Celebration 2025

City of Renton

NB: That seems incredibly unfair to drop a bomb like that and then refuse to talk about it, but fine. Tell me about the festival that Renton hosts in your honor. It happened recently, this past April, right?

ERD: Yes, April 13. The festival is a grand time for the humans. They have a dragon’s egg hunt, costume contest, window display contest, tabletop games, delectable foodstuffs. It is a divine celebration. I find the dragon’s egg hunt to be a bit odd though.

NB: How so?

ERD: Well, I don’t lay eggs.

NB: Because you’re a male dragon?

ERD: No, because I am made of metal.

NB. [confused meme’d math lady expression] Huh.

ERD: I can see that you are puzzled. Allow me to explain. I am a dragon, but my physical essence is not here. This metal dragon structure was constructed by Western Neon, at the behest of Marsha Rollinger and Mitch Shepard (via a bit of light psychic nudging from yours truly); the City of Renton commissioned a dragon body that I could spiritually inhabit.

NB: But why? Is there something wrong with your physical body?

ERD: [eyes flash red] Bite your tongue! I am a perfect dragon specimen. However, I couldn’t allow my physical body to be in danger. Sitting on top of this roof makes me an easy target. Dragons can easily use their psychic abilities to…“possess”—I think is the easiest way for your human mind to understand—physical objects. And so, I did. I’m not here all the time, but I have a connection, so I can take over at any time.

NB: I guess that makes as much sense as being a century+ old man that cosplayed as a human and founded a whole town.

ERD: Don’t strain yourself trying to understand.

NB: Thank you for your concern I guess. [rolls eyes] I appreciate your time today, even if you have left me with way more questions than I had before our conversation. Do you have anything to say to our readers?

ERD: Be careful how you treat others—they might be a dragon in disguise. [laughs uproariously at their own joke, causing smoke to envelop us] And come to Dragon’s Landing next year, it’s a hoot!

NB: [coughs, choking on smoke] Thank you for that, Erasmus. Erasmus the Rooftop Dragon can be found in Renton, Washington, 24 hours a day (or at least his metal body can). 

Nicole Bearden

(she/her) Nicole Bearden is a former performance, media, and photographic artist, as well as a curator and scholar of Contemporary Art. She is originally from Arkansas, now from Seattle for the past 25 years, with brief sojourns in Chicago, New York, and Massachusetts.

Nicole graduated with a degree in Art History and Museum Studies from Smith College in Massachusetts. She has worked as a curator, program manager, and event producer at Nolen Art Lounge in Northampton, MA, as an assistant for the Cunningham Center for Works on Paper at Smith College Museum of Art, and at Bridge Productions in Seattle, WA, and was the Executive Producer for the art podcast Critical Bounds. 

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