According to legend, French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier stole the Hope Diamond from a temple in India and sold it to the French crown in the 17th century. And thereafter, the mesmerizing blue stone brought misfortune to everyone who possessed it.
In the early 1900s, the gem's sinister reputation captured the public's attention but didn't deter Washington DC socialites Evalyn Walsh McLean and her husband Ned. They bought the Hope Diamond from the Cartier Jewelry Company in 1911 and Evalyn proclaimed, "Bad luck objects, for me are lucky."
Fate would test that theory for the next 36 years. During the time they owned the gem, the McLeans endured a remarkable string of tragedies. Was it just coincidence? Or is the curse of the Hope Diamond real? Smithsonian anthropologist Richard Kurin attempted to tackle that very question.
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“Boundary Stones” is an animated history series from WETA which brings the rich histories of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia to life. Using historic photos and archival footage, “Boundary Stones” tells the stories of the past: pivotal events, strange-but-true tales, and the myths and legends from the DMV. From Black history to unique D.C. protests, true crime to civil rights, and more - “Boundary Stones” is your home for D.C. history.
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