Fun Fact: Patrick had a challenge in finishing Hogwarts during the three years that it took to build. Hollywood released a new movie during that period and changed the architecture of some of Hogwart’s buildings, while adding new buildings to the school grounds. Not all of these changes are reflected in Patrick’s model, but all of the new buildings are present, excluding one, the Hogwarts Owlry.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry
Matchstick Marvels took a trip to the enchanted world of Harry Potter when Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was brought to life with matchstick magic. Based on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novel series, the Hogwarts castle was completed in November 2006 after nearly three years of construction with 24 gallons of wood glue and 602,000 matchsticks. It was the largest matchstick model Acton had constructed at the time.
Initial planning for the matchstick model began in March 2004 when Acton completed many technical drawings and a small cardboard scaled model, to assure the buildings were in proportion to each other. All of the initial drawings were based on Michael Bramman’s incredible painting An Owl’s Eye View of Hogwarts. Nearly all of the technical drawings were completed by the time actual construction began in the fall of 2004. Acton used other photographs later to capture the finer details of the castle complex. Also, the release of additional movies showed an ever-changing and more complex Hogwarts as Hollywood artists added and enhanced the scope of the buildings and grounds.
This model was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not and is displayed in their museum in Gatlinburg, TN, near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Click here to return to the top of page.
Matchstick Marvels, 319 2nd Street, Gladbrook, IA
Powered by BDH Technology