The Smithsonian Institution

Oscar the Grouch in a Smithsonian waste bin promoting the Ten Years of Sesame Street exhibition.

File:Jims Muppets.JPG

Dr. Teeth, Jim, Kermit, and Rowlf.

Sam and Friends

Kermit the Frog puppet held by the Smithsonian.

Grover and Bert at Smithsonian 2019

Bert visits the Arts and Industries Building [1] and Grover visits the National Air and Space Museum [https://twitter.com/sesamestreet/status/1137078730441023488

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The Smithsonian Institution is a group of museums in Washington, D.C. established by the US government in 1846. Over the years, the Smithsonian has been host to a number of exhibits and displays featuring the work of Jim Henson.

From June to September 1979, the Smithsonian hosted Ten Years of Sesame Street, a special exhibit celebrating the show's 10th anniversary. A decade later, another exhibition opened to commemorate the show's 20th anniversary.

In 1989, the National Museum of American History created Sesame Street: The First 20 Years, which included the frontages of Mr. Hooper's Store and the Fix-It Shop, photo posers, props, and photos.

Celebrating 150 years, the Institute broadcast Smithsonian Fantastic Journey in 1996, which featured appearances by Kermit the Frog and Beaker.

In May 2006, an exhibit called Muppets and Mechanisms opened at the Smithsonian. The exhibit, divided into three displays at the American History Museum, featured nine puppets from the original Sam and Friends show; a display of characters puppeteered by Jim Henson including Dr. Teeth, Rowlf the Dog, Kermit the Frog, and Jim; and animatronic figures and mechanisms from The Dark Crystal and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. Jane Henson opened the exhibit.

Jane Henson, on behalf of the Jim Henson family, donated 10 of the original Sam and Friends puppets to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on August 25, 2010. These included the original Kermit, Pierre the French Rat, Yorick, Mushmellon, Sam, Harry the Hipster, Chicken Liver, Icky Gunk, Moldy Hay, and Professor Madcliffe.

A traveling Smithsonian exhibit of Muppets opened September 24, 2010 at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

Jane Henson stated in 2010 that the family plans were to donate more puppets to the Smithsonian in the future. Those plans came to fruition three years later, when Cheryl Henson donated 20 more Muppet puppets and props to the National Museum of American History on September 24th, 2013 (Jim Henson's 77th birthday). Among the additions were Ernie, Bert, Elmo, Count von Count, Prairie Dawn, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Scooter, J. P. Grosse, Red Fraggle, Boober Fraggle, Uncle Traveling Matt, and Wilkins; as well as early puppet builds of Grover, Cookie Monster, and Rowlf the Dog.

Kermit was included in the 2016 NMAH exhibition "Giving in America".

Notes

• In 1975, Jim Henson proposed making an after-school, Muppet special set at the Smithsonian following the popularity of the Ernie and Bert puppets' donation.

• Oscar the Grouch makes a cameo alongside Darth Vader from Star Wars in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, a film about museum artifacts at the Smithsonian coming to life. During the film, a photo of Cookie Monster also appeared on the Smithsonian's website.

• A stock photo of the Kermit puppet housed at the Smithsonian was used in transitions to Kermit sketches played in season 10 of Plaza Sésamo.

Collection

• the Sesame Street street sign, used in 1979
• a poster for the series' 20th season
• a Fraggle Rock lunch box purchased in 1988 for an exhibit at the National Museum of American History.
• a 1970 photo puppet of Kermit [2]; it toured with the exhibit "America's Smithsonian", which began in 1996.[3]
• a copy of The Frog Prince soundtrack [4]
• a copy of the 1977 Parker Brothers trade catalogue, including The Muppet Show Game [5]
• a 1983 Sesame Street lunch box [6]

Gallery

Poster for a 1979 exhibit

Poster for a 1980 exhibit

Stock photo of the Smithsonian's Kermit the Frog

Kermit on display after the 2002 renovation of the museum

Kermit at the Smithsonian (post 2002)

Rowlf the Dog at the Smithsonian

Jane Henson opening the 2006 exhibit Muppets and Mechanisms

The Swedish Chef as displayed at Muppets and Mechanisms in 2006

Oscar the Grouch at the Smithsonian

Prairie Dawn at the Smithsonian

Gift shop in November 2016

Gift shop in November 2016

Cheryl Henson donated 20 more puppets and props on September 24, 2013

Emmet Otter and Alice Otter at Muppets and Mechanisms in 2006

Elmo appears to promote One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure on April 21, 2009

J.P. Grosse, Scooter and the Swedish Chef being prepared for display in 2013

Donation ceremony and press conference on September 24, 2013

Cheryl Henson's 20 new donations on September 24, 2013

Some of the new donations on September 24, 2013

Cheryl Henson with the new donations on September 24, 2013

Cheryl Henson with Red Fraggle, J.P. Grosse and others on September 24, 2013

Fran Brill with Prairie Dawn on September 24, 2013

Miss Piggy, newly donated on September 24, 2013

Miss Piggy at the Smithsonian with Dorothy's ruby slippers

Miss Piggy at the Smithsonian with the Hope Diamond

Cookie Monster and Sesame Street sign in November 2016

The Muppet Show lunchbox on display near the cafe in November 2016

External links

• Kermit at the Smithsonian
• Smithsonian New Arrivals Site
• Muppets and Mechanisms Exhibition Page
• The Muppets Take the Smithsonian, Smithsonian.com, September 24, 2013