Visiting the Birthplace of Kermit the Frog
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We’re on the road again heading east for the holidays. Yes, we could have flown much more quickly and much less expensively, but being on the road is where we love to be and so we’re driving Blanche cross country once again.
We had no specific route in mind when we left Las Vegas other than quick stops in Albuquerque, NM and Trinidad, CO to see family. Our only goal is to arrive in Rhode Island by mid-December. We prefer backroads to interstates, small towns to cities, and quirky museums and roadside oddities. That’s how we found ourselves in Leland, Mississippi… only a couple of hundred miles out of our way.
I’d picked up a slick brochure somewhere along our path advertising “the birthplace of the frog”. Yup, Jim Henson’s famous amphibian and ringleader of the Muppets, Kermit, was ‘born’ here in Leland. Remnant fabric from his mother’s old winter coat, a ping pong ball cut in two, and lots of creativity were the only requirements for the original Kermit which now resides in the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History.
The tiny 3-room museum is a tribute to Jim Henson’s early years spent in Leland, froggin’, fishin’, and swimmin’ in Deer Creek, the stream that runs behind the museum building.
Heather, the museum docent, was on hand to give us information about Jim Henson and the creation of his Muppet characters. ‘The Rainbow Connection’ played softly in the background, followed by a rousing chorus of the “The Muppet Show’ introductory song. Below, Kermit’s signature solo… singing and banjo pickin’ …. The Rainbow Connection”.
In addition to Jim Henson memorabilia, the museum also contains more Kermit and Muppet collectibles and trinkets than we’ve ever seen assembled in one place.
No Kermit exhibit would be complete without his girlfriend and femme fatale, Miss Piggy.
After the museum visit, we headed down the street along Deer Creek. Kermit popped up everywhere.
The town of Leland dedicated the Rainbow Connection Bridge to Jim Henson on his 75th birthday.
Even the town water tower celebrates the birthplace of the frog!
So was this 200 mile sidetrip worthwhile? Absolutely! How often does a girl get to hug a frog?
