dummies +General Motors donate crash test dummies smithsonian in 2010
Vince and Larry endured countless crashes and made some funny commercials to get people to wear their seatbelts. The gear from the famous duo was donated to this museum.


Here is a look at some of the more eccentric items collected by the Smithsonian, many of which are currently on view.

Dorothy's ruby slippers

There's no place like home -- at the Smithsonian. The iconic shoes from "The Wizard of Oz", worn by this star, are one of this museum's main attractions. The glittering red slippers are worn around the edges, a reminder of all the clicking and dancing they endured.



Teddy Roosevelt's teddy bear. smithsonian teddy roosevelt son Kermit donated teddy bear 1964

This prized possession is the original teddy bear, given to this president after a particular bear-hunting story made its way around. The incident also inspired a popular political cartoon.



Harry Truman's bowling pin

President Harry Truman had a two-lane bowling alley installed in the White House and helped create a White House bowling league. The alley was later turned into a rather boring facility by the next president.



Warren G. Harding's silk pajamas smithsonian warren harding silk pajamas donated 1954

The National Museum of American History displays a rather odd keepsake: former President Warren G. Harding's monogrammed silk pajamas. He must have loved them, because he had a matching set of red ones.



Cher Ami smithsonian cher ami donated

Despite the increasing use of radio during this war, carrier pigeons were still used to deliver important messages. This particular winged friend saved 200 lives and became a war hero.



Spotsylvania Stump

This shattered, bullet-ridden stump is nearly all that's left of this fierce Civil War battle, which took place in Virginia.



Presidential hair +smithsonian president hair 1883

This museum displays locks from the first 14 presidents, a practice of hair preservation that used to be quite common. It's unusual, for sure, but not quite as unusual as this scrapbook.



Crystal skull

One of these quartz craniums arrived inexplicably at the National Museum of Natural History. The latest installment of this popular adventure film series makes the mystery surrounding the specimen even greater.



Shrunken human bodies smithsonian shrunken human bodies donated 1989

The National Museum of the American Indian is home to two of these curios. They were created in the same macabre way in which this ancient tribe shrank human heads.



'Star Trek' phaser smithsonian star trek phaser donated 1987

Trekkies will delight in seeing weaponry from the classic '60s TV show at this museum.



Bubble suit smithsonian bubble suit donated 1986

An unusual procurement for the Smithsonian, this isolation suit helped "the boy in the plastic bubble," who had an immune deficiency, avoid germs. This movie, starring John Travolta, was partially inspired by his story.



'Howdy Doody' puppet

The stunt puppet from a groundbreaking children's TV program is proudly on display at the Smithsonian.



Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves & robe

The Smithsonian displays some of the gear of this great fighter. Despite some controversy, his prolific career inspired this documentary and a biography with the man cast as himself.



$20 gold coin $20 gold coin donated to the Smithsonian in 1967 by Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt

This coin is scarce and precious and was minted during a major prospecting period. It is believed that only two pieces bearing the 1849 date were made, one of which is displayed at this museum.



Soap Man mummy smithsonian soap man mummy donated 1958

The body of this mummified man turned to soap and is being stored and studied at the National Museum of Natural History. He was discovered in the "City of Brotherly Love," which is also home to the soap lady.



Erector Set heart pump smithsonian acquired the heart pump in 1959 from Sewell's mother

Using a classic children's toy set, two college students built one of the first heart pumps. The contraption is a far cry from technology nowadays.



Silly Putty eggs

The "real solid liquid" that has enchanted kids for ages has its own special collection at this museum.



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