They are perhaps the most iconic shoes in all of Hollywood history: Dorothy's red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. Now, they have their very own Kickstarter campaign.
As the Washington Post reported, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is raising funds to restore the shoes to their former glory. The initiative, dubbed #KeepThemRuby, will support a scientific analysis of the "fragile and actively deteriorating" shoes, the materials needed for restoration, and the construction of a special climate-controlled display case.
"Conservators will work with scientists to understand how [the] materials have changed and the consequences of their natural breakdown," the Kickstarter explains. "Studying the effects of various light wavelengths, their response to changes in humidity and temperature, they will determine the best conditions for their preservation. Using this information, a special display case will be designed with an environment to help slow down further deterioration."
Scroll down to see Dorothy's ruby slippers then and now!
National Museum of American History