Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian

The Hope Diamond, a 45.52-carat blue diamond, is on public display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Popular media and histories of past owners have long associated the gem with a supposed curse that brought misfortune to several previous possessors. The Smithsonian states the idea of a curse is unproven and largely a product of folklore and publicity. The diamond's provenance and its place in the museum's collection are well documented.