Porcelain Stegosaurus Origami Ornament. Red 4 inch long ornament with ribbon for hanging.
Origami—the ancient practice of paper folding—first arrived at the Museum in the early 1970s, when entomologist Alice Gray became interested in creating paper models of the insects in the Museum’s collections. Partnering with the Origami Center of America, now OrigamiUSA, Gray created scores of paper insects, which wound up decorating a small holiday tree in one of the scientific offices. The tree was an instant hit.
Energized by the response, Gray and volunteers from the Origami Center of America re-created the tree the following year in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, adding paper models representing various Museum displays and departments. The public was thrilled, and the Origami Holiday Tree became a beloved annual tradition, both for the Museum and for the thousands of visitors who see it each holiday season.
