We all know that there’s no place like home, and come next month, “home” is the Richard H. Driehaus Museum. Beginning November 13, Chicago’s premier Gilded Age museum will welcome visitors into the beloved world of Oz—no tornado required—with its new installation “The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page.”
Coinciding with the upcoming release of the sequel to the blockbuster film Wicked, “The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page” will transport visitors back to the film’s 1939 source text. You know the one—the musical fantasy classic that starred a doe-eyed Judy Garland, was plagued by production-related catastrophes and shaped pop culture in indelible ways—inspiring everything from a special sought-after collection of Barbie dolls to the music video for Blues Traveler’s maddening 1999 single “Run-Around.” Spread across two galleries on the museums’ third floor, the installation will showcase rare objects and memorabilia from the iconic film in three sections: writing, costume and production design.
Curated by Laura Woolley—who devoted thrifters and collectors will recognize from her appearances on Antiques Roadshow—the installation will feature some of the The Wizard of Oz’s most iconic props. Highlights include a replica of Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, a prototype of the inimitable flying monkey costume and a reproduction of the Cowardly Lion’s medal of courage—all pulled from the private collection of Richard H. Driehaus, the late founder of the eponymous museum. Visitors will also see rare watercolor concept paintings by the film’s production designer Jack Smith Martin, revealing how designers recreated the magical world depicted in L. Frank Baum’s children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
“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,” Cynthia Van Osdol, the president and CEO of the Driehaus Trust Company, said. “As he expanded his art collection, he acquired texts, costumes and production design originals from the 1939 film. By sharing these treasures—some for the first time—we hope the public will be equally inspired.”
From sepia-toned Kansas to the dazzling Emerald City, “The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page” serves as a reminder that a little wonder—and a spiffy pair of slippers—can take you pretty far.
“The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page” will open to visitors from November 13, 2025, through March 15, 2026. Admission to the installation is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students with ID. Children 12 and under receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased here.