Washington ( CNN ) -- Forget red versus blue . The nation 's capital is seeing green . Fifty-five years after debuting on a Washington television station , the original Kermit the Frog puppet was donated Wednesday to the Smithsonian 's National Museum of American History . America 's favorite amphibian was one of 10 puppets from the 1950s show `` Sam and Friends '' given to the museum by the family of Muppets creator Jim Henson . Included in the cast of characters joining Kermit at his new home are Pierre the French Rat , a voracious purple skull named Yorick , and a yellow monster called Mushmellon -- possibly an early ancestor of Oscar the Grouch . The Museum of American History also has , among other things , a 1969 version of Kermit the Frog , Howdy Doody , and Edgar Bergen 's ventriloquist dummy Charlie McCarthy . `` With these puppets we provide insights into American identity , and we also explore entertainment and popular culture throughout our history , '' said Brent Glass , the museum 's director . `` Jim Henson embodied the innovation and ingenuity that are inherent in American culture . Beyond the entertainment value , Henson 's creations helped educate and helped inform his audiences , and they continue to influence us today . '' `` Sam and Friends '' ran on Washington 's NBC affiliate -- WRC-TV -- from 1955 to 1961 . While many of its characters soon faded from public memory , Kermit went on to a starring role in shows such as `` Sesame Street , '' launched in 1969 , and `` The Muppet Show , '' which ran from 1976 to 1980 .
The original Kermit the Frog puppet has been donated to the Smithsonian . Nine other puppets from the 1950s show `` Sam and Friends '' were also donated . In addition, a new Muppet character named Miss Piggy was created for this special event. `` Sam and Friends '' aired from 1955 to 1961 .