MASON CITY, Ia. – When people visit the Bil Baird Puppet Collection at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum these days, they often say, “These are brand-new puppets!” said curator Mara Linskey-Deegan.

A Kermit the Frog puppet created by Jim Henson back in 1969 is now on display in Detroit. It's the prototype Henson created as he was developing Kermit's look for Sesame Street. Kermit is part of the ...