In Pueblo, Colo., a hemp-mâché horse named Lucky stands proudly in the city’s Heritage Museum. He has survived flood and fire — literally.

In 1921, a deadly flood from rising waters of the Arkansas River devastated Pueblo, killing hundreds of people and causing damage that would take years to repair. The deluge also took Lucky, who was serving as a model in a saddle shop. After the waters receded, Lucky was found about 15 miles away, wedged in the branches of a cottonwood tree, a bit bedraggled but, miraculously, intact. With some restoration, he was able to serve again as a saddle-shop model. But in 1989, when a nearby carpet factory went up in flames, firefighters had to rush in and again save Lucky.

Today, children love Lucky because he’s a life-size fake horse with spots, and a good

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