Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry

Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry is on the University of Connecticut campus at 1 Royce Cir. The museum's collection of more than 2,500 puppets includes Javanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Turkish shadow puppets, Vietnamese water puppets and Bamana puppets from Mali. A European exhibit features 19th-century marionettes from England, France and Germany, while an overview of American puppet theater salutes some of the most acclaimed puppeteers of the last century.

Posters, drawings and videos spotlighting puppet history augment the exhibits. Visitors also have an opportunity to create their own puppets via hands-on activities.

Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.