Installation: The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page

November 13, 2025, to March 15, 2026

Timed with the release of the sequel to last year’s blockbuster film, Wicked, The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page takes visitors back to the original 1939 inspiration. The installation will be on view in two galleries on the Museum’s third floor. Curated by Laura Woolley, a memorabilia expert and consultant known for her appearances on Antiques Roadshow and her work at The Collector’s Lab, Land of Oz: Beyond the Page explores the imaginative artistry required to turn the classic children’s story into a beloved movie. Divided into three sections—Writing, Costume, and Production Design—the installation reveals how designers brought L. Frank Baum’s world to life.

Highlights include a replica of Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers, an early draft of the script, a prototype of the iconic Flying Monkey costume, a character costume from Emerald City, and a replica of the Cowardly Lion’s Medal of Courage. Visitors will also see an original edition of the Wizard of Oz book, a historic telegram announcing the change from silver to ruby slippers, and a rare illustration of the Emerald City. Families, film lovers, and design enthusiasts alike will find something to spark their imaginations.

Land of Oz: Page to Screen deepens the natural partnership between the Driehaus Museum and the Richard H. Driehaus Art Exhibition Lending Foundation. This support cements the Museum’s role as a cultural steward of the Richard H. Driehaus Collectionand extends its ability to tell new stories through exceptional design. 

According to Cynthia Van Osdol, the President and CEO of the Driehaus Trust Company, “From a young age, the Land of Oz presented a fantasy world for our founder, Richard Driehaus. He found great escape in the purpose and teamwork of its characters, and the Yellow Brick Road held a particularly vivid allure for him. As he expanded his art collection, he acquired texts, costumes, and production design originals from the 1939 film. These included, of course, our pair of Ruby Red Slippers, and a series of brilliant watercolors by Jack Smith Martin which were instrumental in the creation of the film. Equally influential is a spectacular pastel of the Emerald City, with its pair of concentric deco-styled white halos and the white light that radiates from its core. As a champion of late 19th and early 20th century architecture, it's easy to imagine why this piqued Richard's imagination. By sharing these treasures--some for the first time--we hope the public will be equally inspired. "