Donation of Characters from Sam and Friends to the National Museum of American History

Ten characters from the show Sam and Friends were donated to the National Museum of American History Wednesday morning by Jane Henson, wife of Jim Henson.

Sam and Friends debuted on local D.C. TV station WRC-TV in 1955 and launched the Muppets. One of the characters was the now iconic Kermit the Frog, made with ping pong ball eyes and green felt from a coat Henson’s mother no longer wanted.

“Jim Henson embodied the ingenuity of American culture,” said Brent Glass, director of the National Museum of American History.

The puppets will be on display at the museum in its popular culture section.

— Report and photographs by Kate Oczypok

The muppets

Jane Henson

Willard Scott of The Today Show talks about his friendship and time working with the Hensons.

Dwight Bowers – curator of the museum and Ellen Roney Hughes, former curator

Kermit the Frog poses with Harry the Hipster over his shoulder

Brent Glass, director for the National Musuem of American History

Jane Henson signs the deed over to the Smithsonian