diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index d8e014c845e0..03c21da82de7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -1034,6 +1034,24 @@ def get_backend():
     "Returns the current backend."
     return rcParams['backend']
 
+
+class NonGUIBackendWarning(Warning):
+    pass
+
+
+def _warn_non_gui_show():
+    warnings.warn(
+        "matplotlib is currently using a non-GUI backend, "
+        "so the figure can not be shown.  Call "
+        "matplotlib.hide_show_warnings() to suppress "
+        "these warnings.",
+        NonGUIBackendWarning)
+
+
+def hide_show_warnings():
+    warnings.simplefilter('ignore', NonGUIBackendWarning)
+
+
 def interactive(b):
     """
     Set interactive mode to boolean b.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index c0eeb0543db6..ee3603a55aab 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 from matplotlib import rcParams
 from matplotlib import is_interactive
 from matplotlib._pylab_helpers import Gcf
+from matplotlib import _warn_non_gui_show
 
 from matplotlib.transforms import Bbox, TransformedBbox, Affine2D
 import cStringIO
@@ -2423,13 +2424,19 @@ def __init__(self, canvas, num):
                                                             self.key_press)
         """
         The returned id from connecting the default key handler via :meth:`FigureCanvasBase.mpl_connnect`.
-        
+
         To disable default key press handling::
-        
+
             manager, canvas = figure.canvas.manager, figure.canvas
             canvas.mpl_disconnect(manager.key_press_handler_id)
-            
+
+        """
+
+    def show(self):
+        """
+        For GUI backends, show the figure window and redraw.
         """
+        _warn_non_gui_show()
 
     def destroy(self):
         pass
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
index 2dafa2c5827b..78299c3c8a61 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/figure.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 from matplotlib.text import Text, _process_text_args
 from matplotlib.transforms import (Affine2D, Bbox, BboxTransformTo,
                                     TransformedBbox)
+from matplotlib import _warn_non_gui_show
 
 
 docstring.interpd.update(projection_names = get_projection_names())
@@ -328,6 +329,19 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.clf()
         self._cachedRenderer = None
 
+    def show(self):
+        """
+        If using a GUI backend, display the figure window.
+
+        For non-GUI backends, this does nothing.
+        """
+        if hasattr(self, 'canvas'):
+            manager = getattr(self.canvas, 'manager', None)
+            if manager is not None:
+                manager.show()
+                return
+        _warn_non_gui_show()
+
     def _get_axes(self):
         return self._axstack.as_list()