Kermit the Frog and a banjo that was played by the world’s most famous amphibian can both be seen by guests visiting the American Banjo Museum. The announcement was made by The Muppets on social media with the following post:
Hop on down to The American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City for the newly-opened POP! Goes the Banjo exhibit where you can see Kermit the Frog in person, along with the actual banjo he plucked “Rainbow Connection” on in The Muppet Movie!
“There’s something magical about making music,” says Kermit, “at least it is when you’re a frog
singing and playing banjo. Having my banjo on display in the same gallery with Steve Martin, Roy
Clark and Ed Norton is truly an honor. And to think, those guys aren’t even amphibians!”Visit the exhibit now through October 2026.
American Banjo Museum
The American Banjo Museum is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It has 21,000 square feet that are all dedicated to the stringed instrument. This includes over 400 instruments, recordings, film, video, printed music, instructional materials, ephemera, and memorabilia associated with the banjo. The museum is home to the largest collection of banjos that are on exhibit. When visiting, guests can explore galleries that include replicas of primitive banjos developed by African slaves, actual Minstrel Age instruments from the mid-19th century, Classic Era banjos from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and post-World War II instruments used in bluegrass, folk, and world music.
“The museum was originally founded primarily by and for enthusiasts and players of the four-string banjo, the predominate stringed instrument associated with the jazz age of the 1920s and early 30s,” shared American Banjo Museum, Executive Director, Johnny Baier. In contrast to that beginning, Baier noted that the museum has evolved much like the banjo. As the banjo has evolved for nearly 400 years in the United States taking on many different forms and styles, the American Banjo Museum has expanded and made a commitment to present every chapter of the banjo’s story, from its roots in American slavery to its most recent identities in bluegrass and international folk music.
The Muppet Movie
The Muppet Movie was the first film to star The Muppets. It was released in 1979. In it, Kermit the Frog leaves the swamp to follow his dreams of making people happy by making movies. Along the way, he meets Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, The Electric Mayhem, and other familiar Muppets. This is all as Kermit is being pursued by Doc Hopper, who wants Kermit to be the spokesfrog for his frog legs restaurant chain.
Kermit the Frog and his banjo will remain on display at this museum until October 2026.
What do you think of this exhibit at the Oklahoma Banjo Museum? Are you going to visit this museum to see Kermit and his banjo? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
