How You Can Help The Smithsonian Save Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz
Is there anyone more iconic than Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz? The character who was brought to the big screen over 80 years ago is still bringing so much joy to kids and adults around the world. And with Halloween fast approaching, we’re sure to see loads of Dorothys running door-to-door. But what about those ruby slippers? They’ve been housed in The Smithsonian for years, but now, they need repair, and the museum is taking it to the public for help.
According to their Kickstarter, The Smithsonian needs help saving these iconic shoes from destruction. When MGM’s prop department created the shoes for Judy Garland way back in the 1930s by dyeing store-bought shoes red then gluing netting with sequins on top, they didn’t expect that they’d become part of the world’s history or that the shoes would be displayed for years in a museum.
In the past, the museum has successfully raised funds to conserve Neil Armstrong’s space suit, and according to their profile, although they are federally funded, they are still allowed to ask for donations to help further their mission and preserve important cultural and scientific items.
The museum is hoping to raise $300,000 to conserve the shoes and repair many facets that made them so iconic in the first place — the color has deteriorated and the sequins are falling off and apart very quickly. They will use this money to research exactly how the shoes were made in order to better keep them in good condition, use measures to help them stop falling apart so quickly and, probably most importantly, they will create a special display that will allow the shoes to live for many more years without further age damage.
With perks ranging from a decal to replica slippers, as of right now, the campaign is already at 50% of its goal. We’re sure that with support, the museum will be able to save the shoes so that kids from all over the world can continue to visit them and dream of faraway places.
Will you donate to The Smithsonian’s Kickstarter campaign? Tell us @BritandCo!
(Photos via The Smithsonian/MGM)