This museum exhibit highlights the over forty year life of Kansas City’s acclaimed Hazelle Inc. puppet factory. The visual tour shares the development and operation of the world’s largest toy puppet factory created by Hazelle Hedges Rollins.

Our Hazelle collection features original factory objects from 1934 to 1975. Items showcase the signature marionette and hand puppet styles of the company, inventive production designs, advertising memorabilia, and stage/costume designs.  This informative display shares the story of one of the first successful women entrepreneurs in the country.

Visitors will learn more about a woman who influenced decades of American puppet and toy culture history.  Workshops are available to paint and create a hand puppet from the remaining original Hazelle factory inventory.

The hardback book Hazelle & Her Marionettes, Creating the World’s Largest Puppet Company is available for purchase. The 200 page book is an in-depth chronicle of the factory over the years. It includes 140 full-color photos, puppet brochures, and detailed information on Hazelle’s personal world-class puppet collection and story.  Contact us for purchase details.