Minnesota Museum's Last-Minute Push for Famous Ruby Slippers

The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is in the final stretch of a fundraising campaign. They aim to buy back the famous ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz, " which were stolen in 2005 and are now up for auction in Dallas, Texas. The online bidding has already surpassed $1. 5 million, and the museum needs around $3. 5 million to secure the slippers at the live auction on Saturday. Janie Heitz, the museum's executive director, has been leading the fundraising efforts, hoping to bring the iconic shoes back to Garland's childhood home.

The museum has faced challenges, especially in convincing donors that the slippers will be secure. They've already improved security since the theft, and Heitz has even consulted with the police officer who helped recover the slippers. Even if the museum doesn't win the auction, they plan to continue telling the story of the heist through special tours.

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