John & Mary Go To The Circus!

Oh to be kids again!

Everyone of us would like to do that.

 Here in Wisconsin Mary and John

had an opportunity to do that for one day.

We went to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo.

 

The Ringling Bros. Circus was founded in Baraboo, WI, in 1884 by five brothers: Al, Otto, Charles, John and Alf T. Ringling. Ringlingville was the name for the original Ringling Bros. Circus winter quarters in Baraboo. The buildings, standing along the north bank of the Baraboo River, date from 1897 through 1918 and are the largest surviving group of original circus structures in North America. There are also remains of a footbridge which employees took to cross the river in the winter.

The world-famous circus wintered in Baraboo for 34 years until 1918, the year before it merged with the Barnum & Bailey Show (which the Ringlings purchased in 1907) to become the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows.

 

The entire area has been declared

 a National Historic Landmark Site.

 

Circus World's collection of circus artifacts is perhaps the largest in the world. It includes over 210 original wagons and vehicles once used by American, English and Irish circuses. Circus World houses an exceptional collection of circus ads and posters, with over 9,500 multi-colored circus posters that range in size from half-sheets to a large 80-sheet Buffalo Bill Wild West poster measuring 9' high and 70' long. The collection also includes thousands of journals, manuscripts, business records, original fine art oil paintings, hand bills, heralds, programs, artifacts of circus performers and a collection of rare photographs and negatives.

Everyday at 11am the Museum puts on a one ring circus.

This event includes a dog act from England,

 trapeze artist,

balancing act,

 horse act,

 clowns

and it would not be a circus without elephants.

This place is a worthwhile visit. A person could spend the whole day. It is open rain or shine.

Till next time,

John & Mary