Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater    

Central Park

Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in New York City houses a small children's theater and design workshops. Located in Central Park at West Side and 79th Street, the cottage features Scandinavian details inside the theater which seats 100 children.

The cottage is home to the only public marionette theater company left in the US. The company writes and produces their own shows and designs its own costumes for the puppets. Some of the productions have included Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Hansel and Gretel.

The cottage was placed in the park in 1876. It was originally a schoolhouse sponsored by the Swedish government for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

The best way to reach the Swedish Cottage is to follow the path from the Central Park entrance near the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side.

For current performance information, call 212-988-9093. Admission is $5 for children, $6 for adults, and $4.50 for schools or not for profit groups. Reservations are required.

Shakespeare Garden, located at West Side and 79th Street, between the Delacorte Theater, Belvedere Castle, and the Swedish Cottage, was dedicated to Shakespeare in 1916, the 300th anniversary of his death.

This romantic garden features flowers from Shakespeare's plays, trees, and rustic benches. Visitors often bring a book and read in this quiet area of Central Park. Flowers bloom throughout the seasons and are especially lovely in the spring. The garden reaches to the top of Vista Rock and Belvedere Castle from which one can enjoy beautiful views of the Park and New York City. Browse our travel tips, hotels and more things to do in New York. Nearby attractions include the Strawberry Fields, The Ramble, the American Museum of Natural History and the Arthur Ross Pinetum .


    Shakespeare Garden
      Shakespeare Garden   
    The cottage
      The cottage   
    Children's Theater
      Children's Theater   
    Wooden Bench
      Wooden Bench   
    Entrance
      Entrance   
    Theater
      Theater   
    Marionette Theater
      Marionette Theater   
    American Museum of Natural History
      American Museum of Natural History   
    The cottage from Shakespeare Garden
      The cottage from Shakespeare Garden   
    Sign
      Sign