National Museum of American History - Ruby Slippers

Upstairs in the National Museum of American History is a small exhibit that nevertheless has a big presence.  It even has its own gift shop.  The main attraction?  Dorothy's slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

The Ruby Slippers were made famous by Dorothy Gale, a character portrayed by Judy Garland (1922-1969), in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, this fantasy tale set in a magical land is recognized for its extensive use of Technicolor and has endured to become an American classic. The story had previously been adapted into a cartoon, stage musical, and several silent motion pictures.

To take advantage of new Technicolor technology, the slippers were changed from the book’s silver to an iridescent red hue. They were created by Gilbert Adrian (1903-1959), MGM Studios’ chief costume designer at the time. In the movie, Dorothy is gifted the slippers from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, to keep them safe from the Wicked Witch of the West and to help her return home to Kansas. Over the years, they have become one of the most iconic parts of the film and of American culture. 
--from National Museum of American History website

When we arrived the exhibit was rather crowded.

It definitely was far from home.

Eventually I was able to get closer to the shoes.

I thought the signs around the side of the room were a great way to expand the exhibit when there weren't more artifacts to display.

The ruby slippers were not built to last beyond the film's final take, but the museum is responsible for ensuring that they survive for generations to come.  Over the years, the shoes have aged and their color has faded--a process begun on set with exposure to the intense brightness and heat of studio lights.  In 2016 the museum launched a major preservation project funded by a Kickstarter campaign that garnered contributions from 6,000 fans.
--from exhibit signage

It was fascinating to learn more about the conservation of the shoes.  For example did you know that the overlapping in sequins meant that some underneath others faded less?

The case itself was even specially designed to protect the shoes.  They still look nice when you get very close to them.

As I mentioned the exhibit isn't large, but well worth stopping by to see the next time you're in the area.

~Matt