“I was luckier in life than I ever deserved to be.” He was larger than life — a 6-foot-3, 230-pound athlete celebrated as one of the greatest legends of high school sports in Alexandria in the 1960s.

Explore Jim Henson's puppets and Muppets in the Smithsonian's collections along with related collection items. Learn their backstories, their missions, and the inspiration for each of them. Listen to ...