Grand Rapids, Minnesota: Judy Garland Museum and Birthplace Home

I loved the Judy Garland Museum/house! I'm a huge Wizard of Oz fan and I had the best time going through the adjacent museum. Several things from Wizard/Judy's career are on display, including original movie posters, memorabilia, a huge carriage on a rotating stand (from Wizard), and original ruby slippers (which had been returned to the museum after they were stolen).

There is a documentary playing in one room that leads to a yellow brick hallway into Judy's childhood home. The house has been very well maintained.

Outside, there is a little park with Wizard photo ops and a gazebo. There is also a little children's museum/play area. Don't forget to stop at the gift shop for out-of-print Judy Garland books, films, and records.

A pair of Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" have been found 13 years after they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum. The break in the case came in the summer of 2017 when a Grand Rapids police detective received information leading to connections outside of Minnesota. The FBI was consulted, and they took over the investigation. In the summer of 2018 the slippers were recovered in Minneapolis. They are currently in the possession of the FBI.

Garland's brief childhood home. An interesting 45 minute exhibit, with some items donated by her kids. A pair of Dorothy's (for real) ruby slippers on display were stolen from here. Speculate on where they might be and who might have benefited and why.

The ruby slippers were stolen so they are no longer there. The slippers, original from the movie, were on loan to the museum when they were taken.

Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids, MN in a home that is now displayed on the south side of town next to the Country Inn Motel. There is also a Yellow Brick Road in her honor located at the Central School, downtown. They currently have on display one of the last remaining pairs of ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz movie until Labor Day.