Bring Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers Home to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids is working to bring Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers back to Grand Rapids where Judy Garland was born.

The ruby slippers were last displayed in Grand Rapids in August 2005, when they were stolen from the museum. Now that the slippers have been recovered, the owner plans to auction them to the highest bidder this December. The FBI says the slippers are now valued at $3,500,000.

The executive director of the Judy Garland Museum, Janie Heitz, wants to have the ruby slippers back in the museum.  The State of Minnesota has led the effort to raise the needed money by providing the museum $100,000 to get the ball rolling.

Heitz says donations have started coming in but is hesitant to say how much has been raised so far. At the annual Judy Garland Festival last weekend, many of the visitors learned of the fundraising effort for the first time.

If you want to help bring the slippers home, there is a link at Judy Garland Museum website.