Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem

Though it’s been widely rumored to have “cursed” many who possessed it over the centuries, an expert on the famous Hope Diamond is coming to Spokane to lay to rest any diabolical intent on the part of the magnificent, 45.5-carat rock. Dr. Richard Kurin is the Smithsonian Institute’s acting provost, and spent more than a decade studying the walnut-sized gem’s journey and its “curse” tied to the untimely deaths of many of its owners, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The glimmering diamond has impacted cultures and people across the world due to its unmatched beauty and intrigue, which Kurin will delve into for this special talk. The Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958, and is on display in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Sun, April 30 at 2 pm • $9 suggested donation • The MAC • 2316 W. First • northwestmuseum.org