Circus World, Baraboo, Wisconsin.                 May 28, 2013

Having seen  the movie “Water for Elephants” we were curious to stop at Circus World in Baraboo, to learn more about the history of the circus in America.

In 1884 the Ringling Brothers began their first tour as a circus and during the winter months Baraboo was their headquarters.  The museum is located on the land owned by the Ringling Brothers and is called “Ringlingville”.  Their museum features artifacts and exhibits, including some of the movie set props from the movie Water For Elephants.

We spent the afternoon at Circus World and went to a small circus show at the hippodrome which is a permanent big top which houses the daily circus and magic shows.  I found visiting circus world was a look back at a by gone era in America and to illustrate this article I thought that the one artifact that really struck me was of an old pair of clown shoes.  I have also included a sketch of the little circus show that they put on daily.