The ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz are perhaps the best-known movie prop of all time—famous enough that they are now permanently on display at the Smithsonian.
But even something as magical as Dorothy's sparkling footwear is still subject to the ravages of time. So to ensure that the slippers live on for future generations, the Smithsonian launched a campaign on Monday to conserve them, and they turned to that most modern of approaches—crowdfunding.
The Smithsonian's new Kickstarter campaign to save the slippers is attempting to raise $300,000. The money will be used not only to keep the shoes from deteriorating further, but also to research and build an advanced display case that will preserve the shoes for generations. The campaign's website explains:
To preserve the Ruby Slippers and keep them on exhibit, we have to display the slippers under optimal conditions. Right now, we don’t know what those conditions are! We do know that we will need calibrated light exposure, as well as controlled humidity and temperature. Our conservators will work with scientists to study the slippers' materials to determine the right conditions.
The Smithsonian is federally funded, but the museum frequently raises money for major projects not in its regular budget. In fact, the institution has actually gone the crowdfunding route before. In 2015, $700,000 was raised on Kickstarter to preserve Neil Armstrong's space suit. Given how beloved Dorothy's slippers are, having them as the next big public funding project made sense.
"This particular pair of ruby slippers really belongs to the American people, and so we thought as we sought support that we would invite the public to join us on this journey to help preserve them for the next generation," Melinda Machado, a museum spokeswoman, told The Hollywood Reporter.
You can watch the Kickstarter video below, and donate to the campaign by going here.
