Did you grow up watching The Muppets or Howdy Doody? Relive your favorite childhood shows – and introduce them to a new generation – at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
On Jan. 17, 2020, after a long legal battle with the puppeteer’s heirs, the DIA will unveil a display that features the original Kermit the Frog puppet, which was created by Jim Henson in 1969 and gifted to the museum in 1971.
Kermit first appeared in the premiere of WRC-TV’s show Sam and Friends as a prototype made from an old coat and ping-pong balls, according to the DIA’s website.
The Kermit puppet at the DIA stands 16 inches tall and is made of a combination of cloth, foam, rubber, metal rods and plastic. It will be on display alongside the original 1947 Howdy Doody puppet in the puppet cases on the first floor of the DIA through mid-March.
You can check them out during regular museum hours, which are as follows:
- 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
- 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
- 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Admission to the DIA is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Admission for residents outside of those areas is $14/adults, $9/seniors, $8/college students, $6/kids 6-17 and free for kids 5 and under. Parking in the museum lot is $7/vehicle.
For more information on this historical attraction – along with details on other family fun things to do this weekend in metro Detroit and Ann Arbor – visit the Metro Parent calendar.
