On a recent visit to Atlanta, we found ourselves with some free time to explore the city. Since the trip was relatively unstructured, I didn’t do much advance planning. It wasn’t until we were there that I remembered one place we had wanted to visit for a while: the Center for Puppetry Arts.
A Rich History of Puppetry and Jim Henson
The Center for Puppetry Arts, which opened its doors in 1978, has been celebrating the art of puppetry for decades. The museum, founded by Vince Anthony, is most famous for its deep ties to Jim Henson and his creations. When the Center opened on September 23, Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog joined Vince Anthony to cut the ribbon, marking the start of what would become a rich legacy in the world of puppetry.
The Jim Henson Wing, part of the Center’s new building, opened on November 14, 2015, and is a significant addition to its offerings.
From Wikipedia: This wing houses anywhere from 500 to 700 retired Muppets, including beloved characters from Fraggle Rock, The Muppet Show, and Sesame Street. In addition to the puppets, the wing features films, sketches, and other materials from the Jim Henson Company archives, offering a deep dive into Henson’s creativity and legacy.
The museum has two main sections: the Jim Henson Gallery and the World Gallery. The Jim Henson Gallery houses many of his iconic creations, while the World Gallery showcases puppets and puppetry traditions from around the globe, celebrating the diverse and universal nature of this art form.
Our Visit: Immersed in Muppets and Nostalgia
Since we visited on a weekday afternoon, the museum wasn’t very busy, and we had the chance to explore at our own pace. We started by visiting the Jim Henson Gallery, which was perfect for us. We both grew up watching Sesame Street, and I’m also a big fan of the Muppets, including Fraggle Rock.
The main exhibit area is almost entirely dedicated to Henson’s creations. All the big names are here—Rowlf the Dog, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Sesame Street gang, including Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Grover, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. It was amazing to see them up close!
We wandered around, snapping photos, and reliving some childhood memories. Although we were familiar with much of the story thanks to the Henson documentary on Disney+ (which I highly recommend if you’re a fan), seeing these iconic characters in person was still fascinating. I’d also seen some of the same puppets when I visited the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, where they had a traveling Jim Henson exhibit, but it felt different seeing them in a dedicated space like this.
Exploring Puppets from Around the World
After soaking in Henson’s work, we headed to the World Gallery, which featured puppets from around the world. We watched a video about Vietnam’s water puppetry tradition, which we experienced firsthand in Hanoi. There were also masks from The Lion King’s stage production, showing the global reach and diversity of the puppetry art form.
A highlight for me was seeing Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000. If you’ve been reading our posts, you know I’m a big fan of the show and have even traveled to see the live performances and meet the cast. But this was the first time I got to stand right up close to the puppets themselves. It was a cool moment for my inner nerd!
Temporary Exhibit: A Nod to Fraggle Rock
During our visit, the museum hosted a temporary exhibit focused on Fraggle Rock. This included puppets from the original series and the rebooted version, now streaming on Apple TV+
Fraggle Rock was definitely more from my era than my wife’s, so she visited the gift shop while I soaked in all the nostalgic memories of the Fraggles.
Live Shows and Holiday Magic
The Center for Puppetry Arts offers live shows in addition to exhibits. During the Christmas season, it features a live version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and displays the original puppets used in the classic Rankin/Bass special. It’s a unique experience that adds another layer of magic to the visit.
Planning Your Visit
- Address: 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
- Opening Hours:
- Mondays: CLOSED
- Tuesdays-Fridays: 9am-5pm
- Saturdays: 10am-5pm
- Sundays: 12pm-5pm
- Last admission to museum is at 4:30pm
- Admission Prices:
- Adults $16.50
- Seniors 55+ are $14.50
- Children ages 2-12 are $12.50
- FREE for children under 2 years old
Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts website for up-to-date hours, pricing and ticket options.
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our time at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Whether you’re a fan of Henson’s iconic characters or simply interested in puppetry as an art form, it’s a must-visit when in Atlanta. Have you been to the Center for Puppetry Arts? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!
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