Portland Puppet Museum

Stopped in yesterday while visiting a friend and it was truly the highlight of my trip. Steve was so passionate and knowledgeable, and gave us a full, beautiful, and interactive history of puppetry. This place is truly a gem and I will make it a point to visit again when I come back!

This place is actually pretty cool experience,little small but very educational over the stories of different places the puppets represents... awesome place to be on a rainy day!!

Very fun place for those interested in puppetry! They have an area with puppets that children can play with. The museum is very small and can easily be viewed within 20 mins. The owner gave a belly dance show with an exquisitely made female puppet.

I can't put into words how much fun this experience was. My friends, partner, and I were in town for a wedding and didn't realize our place would be right around the corner from this absolute gem but once we found out, we knew we had to go! John was absolutely exquisite as he guided us through such incredible tales with the drama of an entire theatre troupe! So many wonderful stories like Ramayan and Medusa, as well as a tour through the details and intricacies of puppetry well beyond the posted signs! I only wish we had more time (or were locals even!!) just to spend more time at this fantastical place! A must-see experience for a couple hours; tip well because they deserve to infinity and beyond! Will definitely come again whenever I am in Portland; keeping an invaluable artform and the child in all of us alive--BRAVO!!!

This is one of my favorite places to visit in Portland. My group had an amazing time talking to Steven, and you can tell he is passionate about his craft. We spent at least an hour here, and he walked us through the history of women in puppet form. You learn how to work with the puppets and have a chance to buy your own. The exhibit changes, so even if you have been in the past, try to go again and see if there is a new exhibit. They do shows here as well! I would say come for the puppets, but go just to experience the place with Steven. Next time you are in the area, stop by and don't forget to make a donation. I only took a few pictures so you will be surprised when you visit. I will be returning for sure.

OK….So, my review is a dual review. First and foremost the owner definitely knows puppets, or marionettes, and definitely has a wealth of knowledge and experience. However my main reason for our visit was to see the 45 minute Nutcracker show. I don’t want to sound rude but for 15.00 bucks per person I feel robbed. There was a lot of stuffed creatures attached to sticks bouncing around to a prerecorded sound and voice track. My kids have put on home puppet shows and I had a hard time telling the difference between the show I saw at Portland Puppet Museum and my kids home show. Definitely nice and friendly folks but don’t set your expectations too high.

What a treasure trove! I just took a workshop there with proprietor and master puppeteer Steve, who was endlessly patient and helpful. The price was very reasonable and I came away with a pair of Day of the Dead marionettes.The museum is packed with puppets of all kinds and well worth a visit. Entry is free of charge!

John and team did a great job of engaging the kids - letting them hold and play with the puppets, and telling stories about the puppets. Fun place to go on a rainy day. Show started at 2, but it's best to get there at 1:30 to get seats. Kids can sit in kid-sized chairs up front.

We came by this past weekend and enjoyed exploring and learning about the endless display of puppets throughout the museum, including an exhibit of Mr. Rogers' Land of Make Believe and Sicilian marionettes used in the streets of Rome. The owner, Steven Overton, was enthusiastic about his work and shared tons of interesting information with us as we looked around and discussed some of the pieces. I personally liked the collection of Pinocchio puppets, part of the current fairy tale exhibit (the museum's theme may change once or twice per year). But they were all quite impressive. This is a great experience and opportunity to learn about the art and history of puppetry, and its use in film and education is far reaching and fascinating. Admission is free, and we had no problem finding parking across the street on a Friday afternoon.

This place is a gem! Located in beautiful Sellwood. The puppets are from around the world and are exquisite! Many are hundreds of years old. Not to be missed. The museum is free, but donations are appreciated.

This place is so fun! I've wanted to come by for a while and am so glad I did for the most recent exhibit. John was an amazing tour guide and really helped to bring all the exhibits to life. I was originally just planning to wander around on my own but am glad I joined the tour. I look forward to coming back for a show some time!

A gem. I've been twice in the last year and seen two completely different exhibits, most recently "Women of the Ancient World". Incredible puppets of all kinds from all over the globe were lovingly displayed both times, with lots of historical details and facts to supplement the stunning visual display. On my first visit co-founder Steve Overton took over an hour to personally host us, answering our questions and sharing fantastic anecdotes from his life as a puppeteer and puppetmaker. On my last visit John gave me a complete tour, again answering my questions and going above and beyond to make sure I had a good time. Put your phone down for an hour and step into the magical, unparalleled reality of the Portland Puppet Museum. You won't regret it.

Steve was such a good tour guide, and I loved hearing him talk about his experience with puppets! I would recommend anyone to go here, such a great, free fun :))

This is an amazing puppet museum!! We thoroughly enjoyed our time and personalized tour. The variety and story of each puppet was fascinating.

The Portland Puppet Museum is a must see!! Alongside intricate artistry and an impressive display, Steve's undeniable passion for all things puppetry makes this a once in a lifetime experience. From learning about puppet heritage, getting some hands-on time with hand-crafted puppets, and much much more, this fun stop was definitely a highlight of my trip!!

Love this Museum Owners are the best Be sure to bring family and friends You won't regret a visit here and there are new displays seasonally! Fun and Inspiring for all

Took my son (3) to the Alice and Wonderland show today. Although they started the show late, the show was GREAT. The performance was fun to watch and had some good morals too. My son loved the show and we'll definitely come back. Some advice for when shows start late, maybe have some toy puppets for the little ones to play with to pass the time. Great job with your puppets.

When I went to the Portland Puppet Museum two days ago, I had a hunch I was going to be in for quite an awesome adventure of sorts (as I usually like to call it). And was I right. :) To start with, I couldn't help taking a liking to how nice Steve and Marty were as soon as my friend Ashley and I walked in the door. I instantly recognized Kermit the Frog, Bean Bunny and Miss Piggy from the Jim Henson Creature Workshop, and I also recognized Paddington Bear (from the Michael Bond book series about Paddington). I even took notice of Lamb Chop (from the shows Lamb Chop's Play-Along and Charlie Horse Music Pizza, which I recall from when I was a kid), and then remembered Shari Lewis and how she would've been so proud to see us keeping her legacy alive if she was still here (although she is alive in the hearts and memories of those of us who knew and remember her, even now). Of course, I recall how Steve's Big Bad Wolf puppet took a fancy to me (in a really neat way), and Steve then gave me the Little Red Riding Hood cape with a hood. I put it on, and it fit me pretty well too. I then spoke to the Big Bad Wolf, telling him that Jim Henson would've been proud, and he agreed, saying that Jim would've been looking down on all of us and smiling at how we've been doing our best to keep his legacy alive. Later on, when I spoke to a boy panda marionette, I recalled a very neat speech spoken by the late, great actor Pat Morita's character Sergeant Kesuke Miyagi in the really cool 1994 film The Next Karate Kid when he was talking to Julie Pierce (played by Hilary Swank), which I paraphrased a little: "Miyagi say, fighting not good, but if must fight... win." Some time later, before Ashley and I left, I then put on Little Red Riding Hood's cape and then recited the last part of the song "I Know Things Now" from the 2014 movie Into the Woods (which was initially a musical that debuted in 1986 at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, California): "Do not put your faith in a cape and a hood. They will not protect you the way that they should. And take extra care with strangers. Even flowers have their dangers. And though scary is exciting, Nice is different than good." In conclusion, I highly recommend the Portland Puppet Museum to anyone who likes puppetry and learning about puppets. I give it five stars (although ten stars would definitely be even better). :)

A must for a keep Portland Weird itinerary. Awesome in an obsessive but innocent kind of way, unless you're prone to Chucky-style nightmares. Based out of an early 20th-century building that was once the neighborhood corner store (back in the days when there was a Sellwood Ferry-crossing rather than a Sellwood Bridge), this little building gets completely reconfigured for new displays/shows every quarter or so. From Czech fairy tails told by dragons, with small porcelain-based puppets in hand-stitched costumes, to larger (3-ft tall) puppets with which (with whom?) the two puppeteers have made a straight-to-DVD movie, the rotation is intriguing. The two gentlemen (and they strike me as genuinely gentle men) who present these puppets do so with loving obsession. They will talk to you about the process of making each, they will tell you about stitching the clothes for some of them, they will tell you about making puppets for Disney and the Children's Television Workshop back in the day. And they will then disappear behind their sets and tell you stories with their puppets. It's odd and genuine and fun. Not to be missed.

This is a wonderful place. The hospitality of Steve and Marty make you feel right at home as soon as you open the door. Their love of puppets is evident in the displays and how they talk about all of the puppets they have meticulously made themselves. You know there is a lot of passion in what they do, and you can appreciate all of the work they have done. Steve spent a lot of time showing us the puppets, telling the history of many of the puppets, and showing the projects they have worked on, particularly the Wee Sing Under the Sea production. The starfish was obviously Steve's favorite, and we could appreciate all of the work he put into it. We intend to come back and bring friends. This is one of Portland's "hidden" treasures waiting to be discovered! People like Steve and Marty definitely contribute to making Portland the place it is.

The perfect day trip for your little one, puppet fan, or just person that loves interesting new spots. The owners' passion for all things puppetry is apparent and they share their love with their visitors. I can't wait for my children to get older and visit from the east coast. A great way to spend time in beautiful Sellwood.

Fun sight to see! Super small so won't take a lot of time. Interesting for a stop by. Keep Portland weird!!

I have absolutely no complaints! the location is breathtaking, and the puppet master working was knowledgeable and made the content that much better. This was such a cool experience and i recommend this place to everyone. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

What an absolutely delightful place to visit and learn about the history of puppets. Who knew there are so many different kinds and styles? Steve, the owner, gave an interesting talk, showed some short videos (one of Shari Lewis and Lambchop), then showed us different puppets and how they are able to move. There are hundreds of puppets displayed...from tiny ones to some almost the size of a human. Every age will find this a fascinating way to spend a couple hours. Plus there are puppets for sale. I wonder by OPB hasn't done a special on this one-of-a-kind and very interesting museum that displays so many different types and styles of puppets and details the long history of puppets in every civilization? Don't miss this adventure.

One of my favorite places to visit in Sellwood ! The museum is housed in a old railway station. When the weather is nice they do live shows in a very comfortable outdoor seating area. The stories and puppets are all original and super interactive for the kids. Such a great educational and fun experience for the whole family. The artist are warm and welcoming. You can tell that they really love what they do. Can't recommend this place enough. Totally worth seeing the the museum. The historical and one of a kind puppets they host from all over the world are amazing !The exhibits change periodically and the live shows are something that will delight and awe your children !