The Center for Puppetry Arts is a museum and theatre in Midtown Atlanta dedicated to the art of puppetry, home to the Jim Henson Collection and a global collection of puppets from around the world. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Two details worth flagging: the ticket office is cashless, so bring a card, and puppet shows are sold only as an all-inclusive ticket bundling the performance, museum, and Create-A-Puppet Workshop, since there’s no show-only ticket.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Closed Mondays; Tue–Fri 9am–5pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 12pm–5pm |
| Ticket prices | Museum only: adults $16.50; seniors 55+ $14.50; children 2–12 $12.50 |
| Address | 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 |
| Nearest transport/parking | Arts Center MARTA Station, about 2 blocks away; limited free on-site parking |
| Typical time needed | 1.5–2 hours for the museum; longer with a show |
The Center for Puppetry Arts opening hours
The Center for Puppetry Arts is closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Friday it’s open 9:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm, with last museum admission at 4:30pm.
The Center also closes for major holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Some evening events run later than standard museum hours, so it’s worth checking the specific event listing.
5 great Atlanta experiences to book
- ✊ Take a black history and civil rights tour – the unquestioned number one option.
- 🚋 Get to know the city on a 90 minute trolley tour.
- 🍷 Go wine-tasting in North Georgia’s wine country.
- 🍽️ Taste the best of Atlanta on a Midtown food and cocktails tour.
- 👻 Explore Atlanta’s spookiest spots on an after-dark ghost tour.
The Center for Puppetry Arts ticket prices
A Museum Only ticket, covering the Jim Henson Collection, Global Collection, and Special Exhibitions galleries, costs $16.50 for adults, $14.50 for seniors aged 55 and over, and $12.50 for children aged 2 to 12; children under 2 enter free.
Visitors wanting to see a puppet show also need an All Inclusive ticket, which bundles the performance, all museum galleries, and the Create-A-Puppet Workshop; prices vary by show, and there’s no option to buy a show-only ticket.
The ticket office is cashless, so be prepared to pay by card; groups can also pay by cheque. Groups of 20 or more receive discounted rates on both museum-only and show tickets.
The Center for Puppetry Arts isn’t included in a citywide pass such as Atlanta CityPASS or Go City Atlanta, though both passes cover other Atlanta sites such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official Center for Puppetry Arts pricing page and last updated in July 2026.
How to get to the Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is in Midtown Atlanta, at the corner of Spring Street and 18th Street, next door to the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.
By MARTA, exit the Arts Center Station (North/South line) onto West Peachtree Street, walk two blocks north, then turn left onto 18th Street; the Center is on the left at the corner of Spring and 18th.
By car from I-75/85 North, take exit 251A (17th Street), turn right onto 17th Street, then left onto West Peachtree Street at the second light, and left again onto 18th Street; the parking lot is on the left after crossing Spring Street.
Why book the Atlanta CityPASS®?
- 🐬 World-Class Aquarium & Coca-Cola: Gain entry to the massive Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola, two of the city’s most iconic and popular destinations.
- 📉 Save nearly 50%: Enjoy a significant discount of up to 47% on combined admission to 5 top attractions compared to buying individual tickets at the box office.
- 🐘 Zoo Atlanta & Choice Sites: Includes admission to Zoo Atlanta plus your choice of two more highlights like the Fernbank Museum of Natural History or the College Football Hall of Fame.
- ⏱️ Nine Days of Flexibility: Your pass is valid for 9 consecutive days starting from the first day of use, so you can explore Atlanta’s landmarks without feeling rushed.
- 📱 Instant Mobile Tickets: Skip the hassle of paper vouchers; receive your pass via email and simply scan your smartphone for quick, contactless entry at each site.
Parking at the Center for Puppetry Arts
Limited free parking is available at the rear of the building, entered from 18th Street, including a small number of handicap spaces. The Center isn’t responsible for tickets or towing for vehicles parked elsewhere, so it’s worth arriving early if the lot is likely to be full.
How long to spend at the Center for Puppetry Arts
Most visitors spend one and a half to two hours exploring the museum galleries alone. Visitors attending a puppet show and the Create-A-Puppet Workshop as part of an All Inclusive ticket should plan for closer to three hours in total.
Accessibility at the Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is wheelchair accessible, with ramp access and elevators throughout the atrium, museum, and other facilities. A downloadable social story guide walks visitors through the facilities in advance, which can help visitors with sensory sensitivities or autism spectrum disorder prepare for their visit.
Sensory-Friendly Sundays, audio-described performances, and American Sign Language-interpreted performances are offered as part of the regular season, and tools such as noise-reducing headphones and fidget toys are available on request.
Inside the Center for Puppetry Arts: what to see
The Jim Henson Collection displays puppets, costumes, and artefacts from Henson’s career, including pieces connected to the Muppets.
The Global Collection presents puppetry traditions from cultures around the world, alongside a rotating Special Exhibitions gallery.
The Create-A-Puppet Workshop is a hands-on session where visitors build and take home their own puppet, included with All Inclusive show tickets or available separately for groups.
Family Series performances run throughout the year in the Center’s theatre, alongside occasional Signature Performances such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Ghastly Dreadfuls, which carry different pricing.
The Nancy Staub Research Library holds materials on the history and craft of puppetry, available to researchers on request.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive before 4:30pm, since that’s the last admission time for the museum galleries. |
| Crowds | Weekday mornings are typically quieter than weekends, especially during school holidays. |
| Layout | Start with the Jim Henson Collection before moving on to the Global Collection and Special Exhibitions. |
| Entry process | Bring a card for payment, since the ticket office doesn’t accept cash. |
| On-site logistics | Book ahead for Signature Performances such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which sell out and carry different pricing. |
Frequently asked questions about the Center for Puppetry Arts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Center for Puppetry Arts suitable for children? | Yes, it’s designed with families and children in mind, though all visitors aged 1 and over need a ticket. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Center for Puppetry Arts? | Advance booking is recommended, especially for popular shows and weekend visits. |
| Is the Center for Puppetry Arts open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed Mondays; it opens Tuesday to Sunday. |
| Can you buy a ticket for just the puppet show? | No, shows are only sold as an All Inclusive ticket that includes the museum and workshop too. |
| Is the Center for Puppetry Arts wheelchair accessible? | Yes, with ramp access and elevators throughout the building. |
Things to do near the Center for Puppetry Arts
The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, covering Jewish history and heritage, is next door.
The Woodruff Arts Center, home to the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony, is a short walk away.
Atlantic Station, an outdoor shopping, dining, and cinema complex, is across the bridge.
The Museum of Design Atlanta, a design museum with a rotating exhibition, is about 10 minutes away on foot.
Piedmont Park, a large urban park with trails and a lake, is about 15 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, with interactive science and mineral exhibits, is about 45 minutes away.
The Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, with natural history exhibits and a giant-screen theatre, is about 20 minutes away.
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in Gainesville, a hands-on children’s museum, is about one hour away.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, with wildlife exhibits and nature trails, is about 30 minutes away.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, an immersive museum on civil rights history, is about 20 minutes away.
More Atlanta travel
Other Atlanta travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Why you should book Zoo Atlanta tickets in advance.
- Plan your visit to the Atlanta History Center.
- Visiting the home of the Gone With The Wind author – Margaret Mitchell House.
- Paying a visit to Delta Flight Museum next to Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson Airport.
- Guides to state parks near Atlanta: Sweetwater Creek State Park, Panola Mountain State Park, Red Top Mountain State Park.
