Harry Potter timeline

1995- J.K. Rowling first thinks up the Harry Potter characters while riding on a train to London.

1997- Bloomsbury publishes "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in the United Kingdom.

1998- Bloomsbury publishes "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in the United Kingdom.

1998- Warner Bros. secures rights to the first two Harry Potter books.

1999- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is published in the United States.

1999- "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is published in the United Kingdom and United States.

2000- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is published in the United Kingdom and United States.

2000- Warner Bros. announces the casting for the three lead characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

2001- The first film is released, setting opening weekend records in both the United Kingdom and United States.

2002- Richard Harris, who played Albus Dumbledore in the first two films, died of Hodgkin's disease.

2002- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is released in theaters.

2003-The Scotsman reports that J.K. Rowling has more money than the Queen of England.

2003- The word "muggle" is added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

2003- "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" book is released.

2004- "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" film is released.

2005- "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" book is released.

2005- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" film is released.

2007- "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" film is released.

2007- "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" book is released.

2009- "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" film is released.

2010- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme

park opens.

2010- "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" film is released.