Jim Henson's Creature Shop Opens to Public for First Time in 63 Years

For the first time in its 63-year existence, Jim Henson's Creature Shop in Long Island City, Queens, is now accessible to the public. Situated in the former Standard Motors building, the workshop offers 80-minute tours priced at $150, featuring a puppet performance by Sesame Street veteran Jennifer Barnhart. Guests can explore the puppet lounge, which includes Fraggles and Oscar the Grouch, as well as the active workshop where puppets are crafted. The shop is responsible for creating Sesame Street characters (owned by Sesame Workshop) and has contributed to films like Where the Wild Things Are, TV shows such as Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, and commercials for Coca-Cola. Established in New York in 1963, the company has moved several times before settling in Long Island City in 2009. Daily, it employs between 8 and 30 individuals, utilizing techniques like flocking to achieve its signature fuzzy texture. Ryan Lintelman, curator at the National Museum of American History, describes Henson's style as 'the default American puppet style.' The tour also features a cast-iron skillet prop from a Sesame Street segment with Aubrey Plaza.