Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Magic on display at Museum of Science

Article By: Alex Sessa

Harry Potter: the Exhibition, currently being held at the Museum of Science, has proven to be a popular attraction for young children and diehard Harry Potter fans.  While it does not draw many college students or adults, it is clearly an excellent attraction for families.  Children have the opportunity to experience Harry’s journey at Hogwarts and follow his progress as a young wizard.

The display opens with a man wearing a robe, urging spectators to sit on his stool and wear the sorting hat.  Voice-overs from the movie dictate where each spectator should be placed.  From there, everyone enters a room with a simulated train, intended to depict the beginning of Harry’s journey, taking them off to Hogwarts.  This interactive scene is dark, but well decorated.  The purpose behind this low-lit setting is to engage the Harry Potter fans, leaving them with a sense of ambivalence, so everyone was excited, but uncertain as to what comes next.

Beyond this point, the spectators will enter a hallway of “talking” paintings (actually computerized screens) displaying scenes from the movie.  Each of the paintings speaks to the guests in entertaining, jovial tones.  Most of these characters did not ask the guests questions, but worked tirelessly to impress everyone with their skills and knowledge of Hogwarts.  Beyond this point, lies a series of artifacts featured in the film, including recreations of the clothes worn by the characters, colorful capes with detailed stitching, and Harry’s wand, broom, and books.  Different rooms from Hogwarts were recreated with the intent to give the spectators the feeling they are part of the story.

As Harry’s guests follow a maze of rooms, one leading to another, they will eventually find a room where they can play Quidditch, Hogwarts most prestigious sport.  The display is comprised of three large hoops, through which large golden balls are intended to be thrown.

Through this, everyone is given the opportunity to partake in the exhibit and see how well they fair at this sport.

The display was jam-packed with everything else that can be found in the epic story.  Display cases contain artifacts from each of the seven novels, including the sorcerer’s stone and flying keys from the first story.  Clips from each of the movies are played on screens in front of each of the cases, further stimulating the imaginations of the guest.  The final, most memorable part of the display is a recreation of the Hogwarts dining hall.  This part of the display has paid the most attention to rededicating the original scenery by suspending battery-operated candles, encased plastic cakes, and the chamber table where headmaster Dumbledore sit overlooking the students.

While the display is clearly not for everyone, it is certainly an excellent opportunity for fanatics and people with children.  While tremendous attention was paid to detail in creating the exhibition, people unfamiliar with the story will not only be unfamiliar with parts of the display, they will be completely disinterested. For non-Potter fanatics, the gift shop would probably be the most stimulating part of the display.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Suffolk Journal Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Magic on display at Museum of Science