Harry Potter Exhibition

Last week I went to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industries Harry Potter Exhibit. The Harry Potter exhibit is on a world tour and as Chicago is the only stop in the Midwest, I was more than happy to attend to please my inner Harry Potter fangirl!

This exhibit showcased over 200 authentic props, costumes, and other miscellaneous items from the movie sets. Some of the things on display were dress robes from the Yule Ball¹, props from classes such as Divination and Potions, items from Harry’s encounters with Voldemort during his first and second year (the Sorcerer’s Stone, the diary pierced by a basilisk fang), robes of many of the professors including Lockhart, Snape, and McGonagall, and all sorts of assorted sweets sold at Honeydukes in Hogsmeade². In addition to all that, visitors were able to toss a few Quaffles into Quidditch hoops, tour the inside of Hagrid’s hut whilst standing next to a life-sized Hagrid, stand next to Buckbeak, pull (screaming) baby Mandrakes from flowerpots, get Sorted by the Sorting Hat… the list goes on and on!

It truly was a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience that really brings a fan closer to the overall “Harry Potter experience”. To be able to see so much from the books brought to life in the film is amazing, but to see all of those things in front of my own eyes, not even two feet away from me? To see the very clothes worn and props that were used by the actors in all of the films? Absolutely fantastic. They did a great job with recreating some of the sets in the exhibit, too. Ron and Harry’s dormitory was recreated, as was part of the scene where Lupin first introduces his class to boggarts (complete with an eerily shaking wardrobe!), and even Umbridge’s hideously pink office was part of the exhibit! They even had lots of food from various Great Hall feasts shown, as well as the wands of almost all the major characters. There were also moving portraits; the most memorable portrait was that of the Fat Lady!

Sadly, strictly no photography or videography was allowed within the exhibit so I was not able to document anything, which I would have liked to do. However, I did manage to snag a photo at the entrance of the exhibit that I will post soon. In the meantime, I strongly suggest that if the Harry Potter exhibit makes a stop near you on its world tour, go. It’s utterly remarkable and brilliant, and the gift shop at the end of the exhibit allows you to walk home with some Harry Potter paraphernalia³. At only 26USD for an unforgettable experience, it’s completely and totally worth going to in every way!

1. The trio’s dress robes were on display, as were Viktor Krum’s, Cho Chang’s, and Cedric Diggory’s. I don’t think Fleur’s was there, though. [↩]
2. There were chocolate frogs, which has always been my favorite of the sweet in the books! [↩]
3. I bought Harry’s glasses and Hermione’s wand. [↩]

Cross-posted from breakthesky.net. Please leave any comments there.