Hope Diamond's reputed curse at the National Museum of Natural History

The Hope Diamond, displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is widely associated in popular accounts with a reputed 'curse' that has been part of its folklore since the 19th century. Museum labeling and many press and book accounts note the curse as a piece of legend surrounding the gem, while historians treat the curse as folklore rather than documented cause-and-effect. The diamond remains one of the museum's most visited artifacts and its legend is a longstanding element of public interest in the gem.