#Centre for puppetry arts free#

Travelers can visit with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, characters from 'Fraggle Rock' and several residents of Sesame Street. The collection catalogues the history of puppetry across the world and boasts an entire collection dedicated to Jim Henson's work. At the center, visitors can attend puppetry workshops and live shows. How long do you estimate it'd take to get through the collection? If you don't watch a live show, you don’t need more than 90 minutes to fully experience the museum without feeling rushed.Recognized worldwide for its theatrical and programming ingenuity, the Center for Puppetry Arts preserves and celebrates puppets.

#Centre for puppetry arts free#

You don’t even have to buy a museum ticket to visit just use the free parking and walk right in.įood-wise, is there a café where we can get a bit of a mid-museum pick-me-up? The only food you'll find here is from vending machines, unless you visit on an adults-only 'Puppets & Pints' night, when the museum partners with a local brewery.

Is the gift shop worth a stop? With stop-motion kits, Henson collectibles, and puppets that both kids and adults can use to hone their skills, this isn’t your average museum store. However, the staff is engaged and eager to make sure you're having a great experience, so you can probably do just as well by asking a few questions, as you can exploring on your own. While rarely over-crowded, the museum has a clear one-way traffic pattern, making it easy to navigate.Īny guided tours worth trying? Hour-long, docent-led tours ($4 per person) give you the undivided attention of a passionate puppet lover. How easy is it to get around, especially for visitors with limited mobility? The building is ADA accessible and all one floor. Don’t miss taking a selfie with Big Bird additionally, you can pair your visit with a live puppet show. Plan to spend about an hour or 90 minutes wandering the galleries. As a result, people here are pretty engaged. Who do you think would most enjoy the museum? The name says it all: If puppets aren't your thing, this isn't the spot for you. And, because puppets are meant to be experienced in action, most feature a video element.Īny temporary exhibits worth noting? The special exhibits gallery features rotating installations like 'Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: World of Myth & Magic,' designed to complement the recent Netflix release. Thanks to a multi-million-dollar refresh, all of the climate-controlled spaces are outfitted with LED lights that illuminate the exhibits without endangering their priceless contents. The impressive permanent collection is so large (more than 6,000 items) that only about 20 percent is on display at any given time. The Jim Henson Gallery contains the world's largest collection of his work, from puppets like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Big Bird to costumes and videos, including those from Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and others from Sesame Street and The Muppets. The Global Collection Gallery takes guests around the world with puppet-centric traditions you’ll see Vietnamese water puppets, leather-bound pieces from Cambodia, Punch and Judy puppets, and puppets from Native American storytelling. Tell us a bit more about what we can expect to see here. It’s home to the world’s largest collection of Jim Henson artifacts, including some of his most beloved characters, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Big Bird. The complex-which houses a theater for live shows and classroom space for workshops, in addition to the museum-recently underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion, so it feels contemporary and tech-forward. Puppets, you say? The 80,000-square-foot Center for Puppetry Arts may sound like a kid-centric attraction, but the museum is beloved by visitors of all ages.