Harry Potter Exhibit Debuts at the Upper West Side’s New-York Historical Society

Attention Potterheads, there’s a new exhibit coming to NYC that you won’t want to miss!

By Anja Webb October 5, 2018

Harry Potter: A History of Magic opened Oct. 5 at the New-York Historical Society and is bringing a little extra magic to the Upper West Side. Whether you’ve read all the books, seen every movie, and spend a little too much time on Pottermore, or just like the films, this exhibit will bewitch you. You can find everything from deleted scenes, a walk through of each of the classes from Harry Potter (including Potion Making, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures), and J.K. Rowling’s original drafts of the Harry Potter books.

One year after Harry Potter: A History of Magic premiered in London at the British Library and 20 years after the books were originally published in America, you can now take a tour behind the scenes in New York City. Ever wondered how to make a Sorcerer’s stone? Want to see a map of Hogwarts hand drawn by Rowling? And who could resist taking a peek at costumes from the original production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Plus, you can gaze upon the never before seen cover art (including Dobby!) and collections of real world books that inspired Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Objects from the exhibit have been apparated from local sites and across the pond, including the British Library, NYU, Warner Brothers Studios, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Herald Building, making for a uniquely New York Harry Potter experience. For an even more personalized experience, you can expect family-friendly events such as trivia nights, book clubs, art workshops, and a free Audible tour, until the exhibition’s conclusion Jan. 27, 2019.

The exhibit is included in the museums admission which is $21 for adults, $16 for seniors, $13 for students, $6 for children ages 5-13, and free for children ages four and younger. The New-York Historical Society is located at 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side. Its hours are Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10am-6pm; Friday, 10am-8pm; and Sunday, 11am-5pm. For more information, call 212-873-3400, or visit nyhistory.org.

Image courtesy New-York Historical Society