Community Corner

Creative Minds: Jim Henson & The Muppets Have University Park Ties

As a part of University Park's 75th anniversary celebration, Patch spotlights bits of the town's history.

University Park has been the home of award-winning writers like Louis R. Harlan and James M. Cain and many scientists and innovative minds, it's no wonder that Jim Henson lived in University Park when he thought up The Muppets. 

Henson actually grew up in University Park, but lived in two homes — 4012 Tennyson in his early years while his family moved between Maryland and Mississippi and 4002 Beechwood, where he lived for 10 years and found his love of puppetry while attending and University of Maryland.

The Muppets and Kermit were literally created while he lived in University Park and although he moved away from University Park, his legacy remains at Northwestern High School, where the arts school is named after him.

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Another thing University Park and Henson share are birth years. Henson would have been 75 this year too, if it weren't for his untimely death at 53 from complications of a bacterial pneumonia.

The town will dedicate Henson Green on Sunday to honor probably their most famous resident.

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Both of Henson's homes, along with some of the town's other famous residents, will be featured on the town's walking tour, which will premiere Sunday after the .

Finally, Henson's daughter, Heather, will perform with her troope during the celebration as well.


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