"The Wizard of Oz" ruby slippers could be getting a makeover if the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is successful in raising $300,000 for repairs through a new Kickstarter campaign.
The Smithsonian is reaching out to the public in an effort to repair and conserve the slippers worn by Judy Garland in the iconic movie nearly 80 years ago, according to The Washington Post. The museum wants to raise the money to study and repair the leather, sequined, and glass-beaded slippers.
"Made in 1939 for the MGM musical version of 'The Wizard of Oz,' the Ruby Slippers were created only to last through the end of filming," said the Smithsonian Institute's statement on Kickstarter.
"Now, nearly 80 years later, the pair worn by Judy Garland as she danced up the yellow brick road are showing their age. They need immediate conservation care and a new, state-of-the-art display case, in order to slow their deterioration and protect them from environmental harm," the statement continued.
The shoes were made by the MGM prop department for Garland, but time has simply caught up with the "Wizard of Oz" symbol, according to the Smithsonian.
"Although the dreams they've inspired are alive and well, the materials the Ruby Slippers are made of are showing their age," the Smithsonian statement said. "Conservators will work with scientists to understand how those materials have changed and the consequences of their natural breakdown. Studying the effects of various light wavelengths, their response to changes in humidity and temperature, they will determine the best conditions for their preservation."
The campaign, which will end Nov. 16, has already raised nearly $149,000 of its $300,000 goal on Kickstarter as of Wednesday.
National Public Radio reported that, while the Smithsonian receives federal funding to keep the museums running and pay salaries, no funds go to the upkeep of its artifacts. The effort to save the ruby slippers is not the first public effort by the institute.
The Smithsonian raised $719,779 from more than 9,000 supporters in its "Reboot the Suit" campaign to conserve Neil Armstrong's moon landing spacesuit at the National Air and Space Museum last year, The Washington Post reported.