May 17, 2024

This Day in Halloween: L. Frank Baum’s classic American fairy tale, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is published in 1900. / Illustration by Amelia Stebbing

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is published in 1900. L. Frank Baum’s classic American fairy tale, based on Alice in Wonderland as well as his experiences and nightmares, the book’s early success led Baum to write 13 sequels and co-write a musical adaptation. Multiple film adaptations and a Broadway musical followed. In 2000, The Library of Congress declared it  “America’s greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale.”

1