Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry  will exhibit props, costumes and other artifacts from the Harry Potter movies. The exhibit opens April 30 and runs through Sept. 9.

There could be a science/technology aspect to such an exhibit - explanations of how special-effects experts created some of the scenes in the movies and how the technology works. But I’m not sure they are giving away any of those secrets: The museum press release just emphasizes that the ” authentic artifacts will be displayed in elaborate settings inspired by locations from Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry including the Gryffindor™ common room, Hagrid’s hut and the Great Hall. Guests will also get their first glimpse at items from the next film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™, which is scheduled to open in theaters on July 17, 2009.”

Anyway, this exhibit will probably be a hit with fans of the Potter books and movies.

Combination tickets (good for general Museum admission and Harry Potter: The Exhibition) are $26 for adults, $25 for seniors and $19 for children ages 3-11. Between Museum closing and 9 p.m., exhibit-only tickets are $18 for adults and seniors, and $15 for children ages 3-11. The Museum’s full 2009 exhibit schedule, including free days, is also online at http://www.msichicago.org/about-the-museum/press/upcoming/2009-schedule/.