Many real-world magicians adore Harry Potter, an enthusiasm I don’t happen to share. But I do appreciate the rich level of detail and lore that populates his world, and apparently so does the National Library of Medicine.

The NLM has launched a traveling exhibition that highlights the many layers of historical science and magic in the Potterverse. Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance, Science, Magic and Medicine explores connections between Potter magic and:

…Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy.

The exhibit has sections on potions, herbology, monsters, magical beasts, fantastic creatures, and—of course—immortality. (I would suggest to exhibit curators that monsters, magical beasts and fantastic creatures are all one categoy, but I wasn’t consulted.)

Unfortunately the exhibit appears to be mostly large panels of information and images, no fun artifacts to look at. But it’s traveling to a huge number of locations through 2014; if it’s near you it might be worth checking out.

Has anyone seen this exhibit? Was it any good?

Need a little magical help? Order spell card and put magic to work.