Henson Statue

The University of Maryland dedicated the statue of Jim Henson conversing with Kermit the Frog and the memorial garden that surrounds it, outside the Stamp Student Union, on September 24, 2003. Henson, who graduated from the University of Maryland in 1960, was known around the world for his creation of the Muppets and his work in television with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. His work in film included six movies starring the Muppets and two fantasy pieces, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The statue, created by sculpter Jay Hall Carpenter, captures Jim Henson and Kermit in bronze, sitting on a red granite bench, and weighs 450 pounds. It is surrounded by a memorial garden, designed by landscape architect Philip Cho. The entire project cost $217,000 and was funded in part by gifts from the Classes of 1994, 1998, and 1999.