Exhibits
temporary and permanent exhibits of puppetry in the United States
Larry Reed: Cinematic Shadows
Opening Reception November 6
Exhibition on view through March 7, 2027
Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry - 1 Royce Circle Storrs, CT
We are pleased to announce Larry Reed: Cinematic Shadows , the first retrospective exhibition of Larry Reed's work, opening at the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 6.
Spanning Larry's career, the exhibition brings together handmade puppets, films, photographs, archival materials, including an installation of traditional Balinese wayang and an interactive installation of our cinematic shadow theater.
https://events.uconn.edu/ballard-institute-and-museum-of-puppetry/event/reed-forum
The Jim Henson Exhibition
Museum of the Moving Image
36-01 35th Ave. Astoria, NY
ONGOING
movingimage.us/event/the-jim-henson-exhibition/
The Jim Henson Exhibition explores Henson's groundbreaking work for film and television and his transformative impact on popular culture. This new exhibition features approximately 300 objects to tell the story of how Henson and a talented team of designers, performers, and writers created an unparalleled body of work that continues to delight and inspire people of all ages. Among the highlights are nearly 50 puppets including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Gobo Fraggle, and Wendell Porcupine; character sketches, storyboards, scripts, and photographs; and nearly 30 monitors with video clips from throughout his career and three large-scale video installations.
$9-$15
The Global Collection
Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW at 18th Atlanta, GA
ONGOING
The Global Collection celebrates puppetry traditions in major cultures from around the world. Highlighting the history of puppetry in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, this Collection also demonstrates the use of the art form as a teaching and communication tool.
Organized by continent, artifacts are displayed with rich, contextual backdrops and hands-on interactiNon-Members: $10.50, Members: FREEves that encourage patrons to immerse themselves in puppetry traditions from around the world.
Non-Members: $10.50, Members: FREE
The Jim Henson Collection
Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW at 18th Atlanta, GA
ONGOING
In 2007, Jim Henson’s family announced a momentous gift of puppets and props to the Center for Puppetry Arts. We are thrilled that approximately half of our expanded museum space is dedicated to the Jim Henson Collection.This interactive exhibition follows Henson’s prolific imagination chronologically, transporting visitors through environments that typified the master puppeteer’s world such as Jim’s Office and the Television Studio. In addition to learning how Henson’s characters came to life and are still performed, visitors can view iconic puppets such as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
Non-Members: $10.50, Members: FREE
MASSIVE: The Power of Pop Culture
MoPOP
325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA
ONGOING
Open 10:00am–5:00pm
Open daily except Wednesdays
https://www.mopop.org/exhibitions/massive-the-power-of-pop-culture
Massive: The Power of Pop Culture will explore the impact of global pop culture on our daily lives across 2,400 sq. ft. of exhibition space, offering visitors the tools to ask their own questions as they deep-dive into their role as creators and consumers of modern pop culture. Exhibit features Robin the Frog from The Jim Henson Company Archives. Waffles and Mochi (Higher Ground Productions) are also on view.
The Academy Collection
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA
ONGOING
Open six days a week, 10am–6pm, closed Tuesdays
https://www.academymuseum.org/
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. The Academy Collection includes items from The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and other Henson projects. Currently on view: a selection of items from The Dark Crystal (only through 3/29) and Labyrinth (ongoing).
Adults $25 / Senior $19 / Student $15
Original Kermit and Sam & Friends Puppets
Entertainment Nation
National Museum of American History, Entertainment Nation
Constitution Avenue NW between 12th and 14th Streets Washington, DC
The museum is open every day except December 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/entertainment-nation
Jim Henson's first Kermit as well as his Sam and Friends co-stars Sam and Harry are located in a prominent position in the entrance area (between C-3PO & R2-D2 and Dorothy's ruby slippers). Elmo and Rosita are also featured in a case devoted to children's television.
Free
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
1 Royce Circle, Ste 101B Storrs, CT
January 1 - December 31, 2026
Wednesday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am-7:00pm
Friday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am-7:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is a unique resource for understanding the past, present, and future of puppets and material performance. As part of the University of Connecticut's School of Fine Arts, it complements UConn's Puppet Arts Program in building and disseminating knowledge about our field. The Ballard Institute presents exhibitions, performances, workshops, forums, and online resources about puppetry around the world; its collection of over 3,000 puppets and its archival resources offer further insights into puppet history.
Original Set and Puppets from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, PA
Monday-Sunday 10am-5pm
heinzhistorycenter.org/whats-on/history-center/exhibits/mister-rogers-neighborhood/
Every day is a beautiful day in the neighborhood at the History Center’s Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibition. Travel to the “Neighborhood of Make Believe” to see iconic artifacts up-close from the beloved children’s television show that was filmed right here in Pittsburgh. From the living room set that Mister Rogers walked through to begin each show to King Friday XIII’s Castle and Mr. McFeely’s “Speedy Delivery” tricycle, the long-term exhibit houses the largest collection of original items from the television set on public view. Also on view is a life-like figure of Mister Rogers, wearing his iconic sweater, necktie, khakis, and sneakers.
Included with Museum Admission
Jim Henson's World: Recorded Events - ONLINE
Online
Explore the variety of Jim Henson's World visual and audio programs in MoMI's archives, whether recorded in-person at the Museum or during one of their many online events. Recordings include Q&A with Craig Shemin and Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Creating the World of Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Fraggle Rock Rocks On!, Preserving Jim Henson's Legacy: Perspectives on Four Collections, and Crafting the Creatures and Characters of Jim Henson's World.
Free
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Library
Avalon Theater - 1500 E Lake St Minneapolis, MN
ONGOING
https://hobt.org/puppet-library/
Heart of the Beast is installing the twin cities first Puppet and Mask Lending Library at our very own Avalon Theater. The lending library will be a collection of puppets and masks on display, many of which will be available for check out like a book from a library, at no cost to the public. These puppets and masks can be utilized for protests, community events, school plays, personal celebrations and more. During library hours, the public can come for a visit or check out a puppet. Some of our puppets in the library will require puppeteers and/or transportation. For these puppets there will be a fee attached to pay our contracted puppeteers for their time transporting and performing at your event. When you visit the library we will indicate which puppets and masks require puppeteers. Puppeteers and transportation are always available for all puppets for an additional cost. You will be able to visit the puppet library during its hours of operation. The puppet library will be open every other Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, on the first and third Saturday of the month. You can check our online calendar to confirm it’s open. During your visit you can check out a puppet with a volunteer or staff person working at the front desk. You will get a mini lesson in how to wear and operate the puppet or mask that you are borrowing. Puppets can be checked out for a maximum of two weeks at a time. If you want to return your puppet before then you can make arrangements with us.
Portland Puppet Museum
906 SE Umatilla Street Portland, OR
ONGOING
Thursday - Sunday 2pm-8pm
Our downstairs exhibit area is once again open by order of the State of Oregon. Our new exhibit is "Around the World with Puppets" and is open Thursday to Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm. This display features Puppets from all around the world - some in their Holiday finest, others in their traditional garb, but all of them playing together in Peace, Love, Hope and Harmony. We have Puppets on display from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, the Far East, the Middle East, the Near East, and everywhere on the globe from which we have puppets. We even have a rare, newly-donated Water Puppet from Vietnam.
Bil Baird's World of Puppets
Charles H. MacNider Art Museum
303 Second Street SE Mason City, IA
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 9 am – 8 pm
Closed Sundays, Mondays, and legal holidays
macniderart.org/exhibitions/permanet-collection/bil-bairds-world-of-puppets/
The MacNider Collection of Baird puppets is the largest holding of the late puppeteer’s work to be found anywhere. Displays feature puppets, marionettes, and other materials created and collected by the Mason City High School graduate and world-famous puppet master.
Gus White's Punch and Judy
The Mel Birnkrant Collection
ONLINE
melbirnkrant.com/collection/page10.html
Mel Birnkrant takes you on a virtual tour through images and text of his collection of Gus White's famed Punch and Judy puppets.
Free
World of Puppetry Museum
Brigham City Fine Arts Center
58 S 100 W Brigham City, UT
Open twice monthly
1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 1-4pm
The puppet show is at 2pm
bcfineartscenter.org/world_of_puppetry_museum.html
Come see an eye-catching array of over 150 puppets from around the world (15 different countries) as we celebrate creativity and the ingenuity of people from a variety of world cultures. Also included are puppets that represent our own American favorites from movies and stories. Latest additions are Bross marionettes from Germany and an exciting display of Mexican puppets . . . Viva los titeres!!!
We feature a puppet show, hands-on exhibits, puppet craft time and several informal wide mouth puppet folk tales. We work with visitors' schedules for the other activities. You can call to schedule in advance, or show up at the door. Puppet tours and workshops available by appointment.
Free (donations are welcome)
The Bread and Puppet Museum
Bread and Puppet Theater
753 Heights Road Glover, VT
The museum is open June 1 to November 1, daily 10 am to 6:00 pm, and is also open before and after evening performances. There is a museum tour every Saturday at 6:00pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm during July and August. During the cold months, it is officially closed, but may be opened by appointment or chance.
The Bread and Puppet Museum is a massive accumulation of the puppets, masks, paintings and graphics of the Bread and Puppet Theater, housed in a 150-year-old barn in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, 25 miles south of the Canadian border. It is one of the largest collections of some of the biggest puppets and masks in the world. It was created in 1974 when Bread and Puppet Theater moved to this former dairy farm after a residency at Goddard College, and before that close to a decade in New York City. The museum is full to the brim; its population density is an expression not only of the accumulations of time but of the urgencies which inspired the making of so much stuff: the poverty of the poor, the arrogance of the war-mongers, the despair of the victims, and maybe even stronger than that, the glory of this whole god-given world. And naturally, all this will decay in due course.
Grouped according to theme, color, or size, the puppets recreate dramatic scenes from bygone shows and form striking compositions with hand-printed banners and paper-mache reliefs. Over the years, the collection has expanded to fill two floors in the barn and now spills out into the woodshed, the Cheap Art bus across the road, and onto the walls of the Paper-Mache Cathedral behind the barn.
Admission is free; donations are welcome
Vent Haven Museum
The World's Only Museum Dedicated to Ventriloquism
33 West Maple Avenue Fort Mitchell, KY
Open by appointment only. Visit the website for more information.
Vent Haven's founder, W.S. Berger, spent more than 40 years amassing a personal collection of everything related to ventriloquism: dummies, puppets, photos, scripts, memorabilia, playbills, posters, recordings, and on and on and on! In 1973 his massive collection was officially opened to the public and since then has more than doubled in size as its name and reputation have spread worldwide. Housing more than 1,100 dummies used by ventriloquists from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, Vent Haven's uniqueness draws tourists from literally around the world.
$15
