“He was an adventurer into the vaults and cellars and horrible underground passages of the human soul.” D. H. Lawrence could only be referring to one person – Edgar Allan Poe.

This year marks the bicentennial of Poe’s riveting life and legacy, and The Harry Ransom Center at UT celebrates this occasion with an extensive exhibit of relics and art. Haunting and ghastly paintings inspired by Poe’s work line the walls of the gallery, and original scrolls and manuscripts allow the viewer a close and personal look into the mind of America’s most celebrated writer.

As if staring at his handwriting isn’t awing enough: Poe’s writing desk, a lock of his hair given to his childhood beloved, Sarah Elmira Royster, and daunting daguerreotypes and paintings of Poe are also on display. Personal letters, original newspaper articles of his poems and short stories and first editions fill the exhibit.

Perhaps the most interesting section is the display of effects Poe has had on pop culture- movies, comics, action figures and bicentennial stamps – just to name a few. Baltimore Ravens’ paraphernalia represent Poe’s legacy in the city where he worked and is now buried. Their mascot is affectionately dubbed “Poe.” His face has donned collectable cigarette cards in packets of Duke’s Cigarettes, and the cover of the Beatle’s “Sgt. Pepper’s” album. He is immortalized in their song “I am the Walrus” and in Lou Reed’s concept album “The Raven,” where the likes of Steve Buscemi and Willem Dafoe offer interpretations of Poe’s work.

“From Out That Shadow,” is showing until Jan. 3, 2010 at the Harry Ransom Center across from the Dobie Mall. Admission is free.