The Center for Puppetry Arts opened to the public on September 23, 1978, when Kermit the Frog and his creator Jim Henson cut the ceremonial ribbon.

A young puppeteer from Florida, Vincent Anthony, began touring with Nicolo Marionettes under the tutelage of Nicholas Coppola-based out of New York City.

They created a successful touring company that traveled around the southeast and presented several seasons at Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center.

That first season, the center mounted an exhibition of puppets, presented shows for adults and families, and hosted community-based workshops and activities that continue to this day.

National traveling puppetry troupes set up shop at the center during SummerFest and perform a variety of works for families.

The Center for Puppetry Arts also has the New Directions Series which features teen and adult-oriented shows by Atlanta artists and visiting companies.

Create-A-Puppet Workshops, offered in conjunction with Family Series performances, encourage children to build a puppet of their own that is related to the show.

Puppets in the collection include Wayland Flowers' Madame, The Little Players, Skeksis from the film The Dark Crystal, two of the mask prototypes created by Julie Taymor for the Broadway smash-hit, The Lion King, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Jim Henson's Muppets Rowlf the Dog, Ernie, Swedish Chef, Pigs In Space, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.