Swedish Cottage

The Swedish Cottage is home to one of the last public marionette companies in the United States. Puppeteers have worked their magic right from the cottage since 1947, pulling the strings on their hand-carved marionettes to bring life to all the fairy tale classics.

Originally constructed as a model pre-fabricated schoolhouse, the cottage was transported to Philadelphia to be shown as Sweden’s entry in the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted took a liking to the rustic building and at his urging it was disassembled and transported to Central Park.

After a string of diverse uses – the nature study center for children and an entomological lab, for examples – the cottage became headquarters in 1939 for the Parks Department’s Traveling Marionette Theater. The marionette company has long been known for its whimsical productions of classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella. Under the direction of the City Parks Foundation, the charming productions are a must-see for families.