Laughing Matters

Laughing Matters featured the stories of three women (human and puppet) who changed the face of comedy: Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, and Miss Piggy, a creation of Jim Henson. The showcase highlighted the power of laughter in the realm of social and political discussion, and showed how women such as Diller, Burnett and “Miss Piggy” paved the way for the modern female comedian and modern women in general. The case featured Burnett's “charwoman” costume, a costume worn by Diller during Bob Hope’s USO Christmas Tour in 1967, the Miss Piggy hand and rod puppet, and other objects defining the power of laughter.

About the Artifact Walls

Artifact walls, consisting of 275 linear feet of glass-fronted cases lining the central first and second floors, highlight the depth and breadth of the collections. They reflect the Museum's core mission to collect, study, and exhibit objects from our nation's rich and diverse history. This display is one of the special cases that highlight anniversaries, views into the collections, and research findings.