Smithsonian Channel The Origins of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children s story unlike any other. Enthusiastically embraced by young and old alike, author L. Frank Baum s beloved classic was the Harry Potter of its day. It has been adapted and re-invented by multiple generations and has inspired the most beloved characters and iconic pair of shoes in pop-culture history. But how did this classic tale come to be? Visit the locations that inspired Baum s Land of Oz, dig into his family s archival collection, and hear interviews with fans and historians as we share this heart-warming story of the man behind the classic.