Difference between revisions of "Circus World Museum" - New World Encyclopedia
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The [[Great Circus Parade]], which featured historic circus wagons from the Circus World Museum, was held in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] in 1963, and in various cities between 1985 and 2005, primarily Milwaukee (1985-2003) and [[Baraboo, Wisconsin]] (2004-2005). When held in Milwaukee, the parade entailed a two-day journey by train across Wisconsin, from Baraboo to Milwaukee, making brief stops at cities along the way. An encampment on Milwaukee's lake front allowed visitors to view the circus wagons up close, take elephant, camel, and zebra rides, and view historical circus artifacts. The parade itself took a three-mile route through downtown Milwaukee. Although the parade is presently on hiatus, it is slated to return to Milwaukee in 2009.<ref>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2008/03/circusparade.asp "Great Circus Parade to Return to Milwaukee,"] Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 13, 2009.</ref> | The [[Great Circus Parade]], which featured historic circus wagons from the Circus World Museum, was held in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] in 1963, and in various cities between 1985 and 2005, primarily Milwaukee (1985-2003) and [[Baraboo, Wisconsin]] (2004-2005). When held in Milwaukee, the parade entailed a two-day journey by train across Wisconsin, from Baraboo to Milwaukee, making brief stops at cities along the way. An encampment on Milwaukee's lake front allowed visitors to view the circus wagons up close, take elephant, camel, and zebra rides, and view historical circus artifacts. The parade itself took a three-mile route through downtown Milwaukee. Although the parade is presently on hiatus, it is slated to return to Milwaukee in 2009.<ref>[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2008/03/circusparade.asp "Great Circus Parade to Return to Milwaukee,"] Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 13, 2009.</ref> | ||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | *Bonheur, Rosa. ''Circus World Museum Poster Collection.'' 1841. | |
| + | *Circus World Museum (Baraboo, Wis.), and Charles Philip Fox. ''Horse Drawn Wagon Collection at the Circus World Museum,'' Baraboo, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, WI (115 East Wells St., Milwaukee 53202): Great Circus Parade, 1994. | ||
| + | *''Circus World Museum Film and Video Collection.'' 1906. | ||
| + | *Fellows, Dexter William, and Andrew A. Freeman. ''This Way to the Big Show: The Life of Dexter Fellows.'' New York: Viking Press, 1936. | ||
| + | *Guernsey's (Firm). ''The Circus World Collection of Important Circus Artifacts and Carrousel Carvings: Encompassing the Collections of Charles Philip Fox, Robert Clarke, and William Donahue, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City, February 16 & 17, 1985''. New York, N.Y.: Guernsey's, 1985. | ||
| + | *Museum of the City of New York. ''Circus Collection.'' 1821. | ||
| + | *Ringling Museum of the Circus, and Mel Miller. ''Ringling Museum of the Circus; The Collection and Its Relation to the History of the Circus.'' 1963. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 03:26, 14 January 2009
The Circus World Museum is a large museum complex in Baraboo, Wisconsin in the U.S. devoted to circus-related history. The museum, which features not only circus artifacts and exhibits, but also hosts daily live circus performances throughout the summer, is owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, and operated by the non-profit Circus World Museum Foundation. The museum was the major participant in the Great Circus Parade held from 1985 to 2005.
History
Circus World Museum is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin because of that city's significance in circus history. Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers, and it was in Baraboo in 1884 that the Ringling Brothers Circus held its first performance. The circus expanded quickly, touring cities across the United States each summer, but Baraboo remained the circus's headquarters and wintering grounds until 1917, when the Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, which the Ringling Brothers had bought out in 1908. The combined entity, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was very successful, and is the largest surviving circus company in the United States.
The museum also commemorates a number of other circuses formerly based in Wisconsin.
In 1954, John M. Kelley, a former attorney for the Ringling Brothers, incorporated Circus World Museum with the intent of forming a museum of the Ringling Brothers Circus and circus history in general. By this time the popularity of circuses and other live shows was declining greatly in favor of new media, such as television. After an initial period of organization and fundraising, the museum acquired a large site in Baraboo that included the former wintering grounds of the Ringling Brothers Circus. This site was deeded to the Wisconsin Historical Society to be used as the museum's location, and Circus World Museum opened to the public on July 1, 1959.
From 1992 to 2003, there were two wagon carvers named Rick King and Cap Jacobs. In their 11 years they restored almost all the wagons at the site, loaded the train, and helped in the daily parade. Rick King also drove the model T ford in the daily parade around the grounds.
The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center
The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center is a research facility for circus and its history, specialized in American circus. The collections include
holding collections of circus-related books and artifacts that include thousands of items including original photographs, posters, manuscripts, and etc. The library is open to the public at no charge while staff are present.
Exhibits
Circus World Museum encompasses several buildings holding numerous exhibits on circus history.
Ringlingville consists of the remaining buildings of the original wintering grounds of the Ringling Brothers Circus, a National Historic Landmark[1]. Buildings in Ringlingville include the Ring Barn, Elephant House, Animal House, Baggage Horse Barn, Winter Quarters Office, and Wardrobe Department. Tours of Ringlingville present information on the history of the Ringling Brothers Circus, as well as offering behind the scenes glimpses into the efforts taken by the circus while preparing for shows.
The Irvin Feld Exhibit Hall is the museum's largest building, and houses exhibits on the history of the Ringling Brothers Circus, as well as other exhibits relating to general aspects of circuses and circus history.
The Hippodrome is a permanent big-top which houses the museum's daily circus and magic show performances.
The W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion houses a collection of fifty restored antique circus wagons.
The C.P. Fox Wagon Restoration Center is used by the museum to refurbish Circus Wagons, and visitors to the building can view in wagon restorations that are in progress.
Great Circus Parade
The Great Circus Parade, which featured historic circus wagons from the Circus World Museum, was held in Milwaukee in 1963, and in various cities between 1985 and 2005, primarily Milwaukee (1985-2003) and Baraboo, Wisconsin (2004-2005). When held in Milwaukee, the parade entailed a two-day journey by train across Wisconsin, from Baraboo to Milwaukee, making brief stops at cities along the way. An encampment on Milwaukee's lake front allowed visitors to view the circus wagons up close, take elephant, camel, and zebra rides, and view historical circus artifacts. The parade itself took a three-mile route through downtown Milwaukee. Although the parade is presently on hiatus, it is slated to return to Milwaukee in 2009.[2]
Notes
- ↑ National Historic Landmark, Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- ↑ "Great Circus Parade to Return to Milwaukee," Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Bonheur, Rosa. Circus World Museum Poster Collection. 1841.
- Circus World Museum (Baraboo, Wis.), and Charles Philip Fox. Horse Drawn Wagon Collection at the Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, WI (115 East Wells St., Milwaukee 53202): Great Circus Parade, 1994.
- Circus World Museum Film and Video Collection. 1906.
- Fellows, Dexter William, and Andrew A. Freeman. This Way to the Big Show: The Life of Dexter Fellows. New York: Viking Press, 1936.
- Guernsey's (Firm). The Circus World Collection of Important Circus Artifacts and Carrousel Carvings: Encompassing the Collections of Charles Philip Fox, Robert Clarke, and William Donahue, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City, February 16 & 17, 1985. New York, N.Y.: Guernsey's, 1985.
- Museum of the City of New York. Circus Collection. 1821.
- Ringling Museum of the Circus, and Mel Miller. Ringling Museum of the Circus; The Collection and Its Relation to the History of the Circus. 1963.
External links
All links are retrieved January 13, 2009.
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