Circus World Museum

Steve Freese, Executive Director of the Circus World Museum, discussed how Circus World exists because in 1884 the Ringling Brothers created Ringling Brothers World’s Greatest Show in Baraboo, Wisconsin.  Circus World consists of 63 acres including 8 of the original Ringling Brothers buildings.  Their original winter quarters buildings are now a National Historic Landmark site since they are the last remaining winter quarter buildings in the country. The show consisted of 65 elephants that each ate 260 lbs. of food each day.  At the height of the circus, 1,500 horses and 1,500 employees traveled to put on the circus. It took 65 acres to set up the circus lot that had 3 rings inside the tent, 5 stages and held 16,000 spectators.  The train would go out a week before the circus to put signs in windows and give away free tickets.  The circus would set up for an afternoon matinee and evening show then tear down and be in the next town the next day to do all over again. From 1884-1918, there were 30 buildings located along the Baraboo River.  The Ringling Train Shed is the longest wooden railroad structure in America (675 feet long) and is currently being restored.  The Ringling Brothers became the largest circus in the country. The circus wintered in Baraboo for 34 years – though the winter of 1918.  During that time period, the show grew from a small operation employing a handful of people to a circus empire consisting of the three largest circuses in America each employing over a thousand people.  Currently, Circus World puts on 9 performances each day from the middle of May through Labor Day.  There are 215 circus wagons in the collection dating back from 1800’s to the 1950’s.  This year’s show consists of magic shows by Tristan Crist, animal performances, juggling, 4 elephants, Kid’s World Circus presentation, horses, aerialist, clowns (Punchy and Judy) and miniature horse.  In the movie, Water for Elephants filmed in 2011, circus wagons from the Circus World Museum were used.  Circus World is operated though their Foundation through a Lease and Management Agreement. The Circus World Museum is located at 550 Water Street in Baraboo.  For more information go to: http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/