Jim Henson didn’t set out to become a famous puppeteer or create characters beloved by children—and adults—worldwide. He made puppets simply because he wanted to work in television.

Bonnie Erickson designed and built the inimitable Miss Piggy in 1974 for an early "Muppets" television special, produced by Jim Henson. Puppets, props and storyboards from Henson's prolific career ...

But today, the museum announces that the Jim Henson Legacy organization and the Henson family is donating 21 of Henson’s most cherished puppets from “The Muppet Show,” “Sesame Street ...

Airing from 1963 to 1966, “The Jimmy Dean Show” featured Jim’s puppet Rowlf. It was the first regular network appearance of a Muppet character. The studio wasn’t ideal for shooting puppets.

In 1955, Jim and Jane were given their own TV show, Sam and Friends, starring The Muppets, and by the early 1960s, the team had expanded to include writer Jerry Juhl, puppet builder Don Sahlin ...