NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2026 — The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts opened “Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City” on February 12, showcasing more than 300 rare artifacts from the largest public library collection of magic materials in the United States.
The exhibition, which runs through July 11 in the Vincent Astor Gallery at Lincoln Center, celebrates the era from the 1870s through the 1930s when New York served as an international hub for magic performance. The timing carries special significance, coinciding with the centennial of Harry Houdini’s death on October 31, 1926.
Curated by Annemarie van Roessel, assistant curator of the Billy Rose Theatre Division, the exhibition draws from the library’s Billy Rose Theatre Division archives to present the stories of legendary performers including Houdini, Harry Kellar, Alexander and Adelaide Herrmann, Howard Thurston, Black Herman, and Max Malini.
At the heart of the exhibition sits the collection of Dr. Saram R. Ellison, co-founder of the Society of American Magicians. His donation to the library includes more than 40 wands used by famous magicians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rare books on magic dating from the 18th century through the 1910s, and early documents and photographs from the Society of American Magicians.
The exhibition also features 48 original lithograph posters showcasing iconic magic performances, magic props and tricks illustrating the ingenuity of stage magicians, and rare photographs of magicians both in performance and behind the scenes, including examples of trick photography.
The exhibition is designed to evoke the interior of an early 20th-century magic shop, with one room recreating the historic Martinka magic shop that served New York’s magic community. The presentation explores how magical knowledge was transmitted through communities and lineages of performers, with apprenticeship, mentorship, and collaboration ensuring that tricks, techniques, and performance styles were preserved and refined across generations.
An opening gala was held February 11, with magician Steve Cohen delivering remarks. Cohen, who performs “Chamber Magic” at the Lotte New York Palace, previously hosted a benefit performance in October 2025 that raised funds to support the exhibition.
“To stand in that institution – surrounded by archivists, scholars, fellow magicians, and members of the press – and talk about magic not as novelty, but as culture, history, and art… that felt deeply meaningful,” Cohen wrote on his website following the gala. “For years, magic lived in footnotes. Passed hand to hand. Whispered backstage. Preserved in scrapbooks and fading photographs. Seeing it presented with scholarly care and institutional respect was something special.”
The exhibition explores how magic evolved alongside popular entertainment during the Golden Age, with performers embracing new technologies including photography and early motion pictures, as well as innovations in stagecraft. Magic was intertwined with spiritualism, theatre, and circus traditions during this period, reflecting broader cultural and social currents.
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is offering guided tours of the exhibition and related programming throughout its run. The library’s collection of magic materials represents a significant resource for researchers and enthusiasts studying the history of magic performance in America.
“Mystery and Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City” is free and open to the public at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Shelby Cullom Davis Museum, Vincent Astor Gallery, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, through July 11, 2026.
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