The Center for Puppetry Arts, at Spring and 18th Streets in Midtown Atlanta, is the largest American nonprofit devoted entirely to puppetry. It combines a museum, working theaters, and hands-on workshops under one roof. Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog cut the ribbon in 1978, and families, Muppet fans, and design-minded adults have been coming ever since.
The Worlds of Puppetry Museum holds the Jim Henson Collection, where original Muppets, Fraggles, and creatures from The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth sit alongside sketches and behind-the-scenes material. A separate Global Collection displays shadow, rod, and marionette traditions from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. On the stages, the Family Series offers adapted fairy tales and picture-book stories for young audiences. The adult-oriented Xperimental Puppetry Theater series takes on edgier material. Many family performances pair with a build-your-own-puppet workshop, so kids leave holding something they made.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The museum is generally open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed Mondays and some holidays, so confirm hours on the official visitor page before you go. Buy show and workshop tickets online in advance, because weekend and school-holiday performances sell out. Weekday afternoons, after school field trips leave, are the quietest time for the galleries. On-site parking is free. If you take transit, the Arts Center MARTA station is a short walk away, and the High Museum of Art is a few blocks south.
