Using science to enhance our understanding of the Ruby Slippers from the 1939 classic film,The Wizard of Oz
The Ruby Slippers, worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movieThe Wizard of OZ, are an iconic piece of cinematic history and popular culture. Since 1979, one pair of these slippers has been in possession of the Smithsonian Institute, but merely possessing such a piece is not enough: informed conservation strategies are necessary so that many generations to come will be able to enjoy these slippers. But what are Dorothy’s slippers made of? Adetailed material analysispublished inHeritage Sciencetries to answer this question.