Smithsonian: Reeves wheelchair not enough

The New York Post reported last week that Deborah Morosini, the sister of Reeve's late wife, Dana, had offered the beloved actor's chair to the Smithsonian so his gallant struggle to survive against the odds will be remembered for generations.

But the deal fell through when the organization said thanks, but no thanks.

Katherine Ott, a curator at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., which is run by the Smithsonian, confirmed to The Post's Marianne Garvey that officials wanted much more than the wheelchair. She said the museum wants an entire collection of Reeve's possessions - but once the family learned of the demand, they cut off the contract.

"We want more than the wheelchair," Ott said. "We need the whole history of his experience, not just one piece. We want the fuller story, not just the chair. What if people look at only the chair 50 years from now? It won't tell the whole story."

Among other items requested were Reeve's medications, his exercise equipment, a special bike he used, a tiltboard, literature he collected and letters he wrote about his condition. "We made a list and we never heard back," Ott said.

Despite the fact that the Smithsonian looks like the bad guy for rejecting Superman's wheelchair... I actually respect nonprofit staff that place restrictions on what they will accept instead of being forced to take every in-kind 'donation' someone wants to give.