An Exhibit All About Harry Potter Is Coming to New York

Get an inside look into the creation of "The Boy Who Lived."

By Samantha Neudorf September 8, 2017

Calling all Harry Potter fans! You can view rare books, manuscripts, and other magical objects at an upcoming exhibit called Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the New-York Historical Society, according to a press release.

This exhibit is set to debut at the British Library in London and will open in New York in October 2018 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’s publication. It also comes just a few months after Harry Potter and the Cursed Child makes its Broadway appearance in April 2018.

Visitors can expect to view items on display from the British Library’s collection, which is opening on Oct. 20, including original drafts and drawings by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and illustrator Jim Kay. The New York exhibit will feature U.S.-specific items from the New-York Historical Society and Scholastic, publisher of the American books.

To accompany the opening of this exhibit in London, Scholastic and J.K. Rowling’s digital platform Pottermore are publishing Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic—a book depicting objects and artifacts featured in the exhibition. The companion book, Harry Potter: A History of Magic, will be released in October 2018 in relation to the New York exhibit opening.

“As the oldest museum in New York, the New-York Historical Society is honored to present Harry Potter: A History of Magic in 2018 and bring these incredible treasures from the British Library to a whole new audience,” Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical, said in a statement. “The Harry Potter series has turned a generation into avid readers, and they’re sure to be enchanted by this fascinating exploration of magical traditions and myths from across the world, which make the Harry Potter series so rich and exciting.”

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Photo courtesy Illustration by Jim Kay
Courtesy Bloomsbury Publishing Plc