Circus Exhibits
Above are a few of the 260+ beautiful and authentic circus wagons in the collections at Circus World.
Circus World offers acres of exhibits documenting the American Circus. The original Ringling buildings are the largest artifacts, part of the Ringling Bros. Circus original winter quarters. The Ringling Circus used our site in Baraboo as their home base from 1884-1918. This is where 5 brothers dreamed, created, and exported amazing wonders to eager audiences across America. The winter quarters are the largest and oldest group of nineteenth and twentieth century circus structures in the United States, belonging to the largest circus enterprise the world has ever known. The property is a National Historic Landmark Site consisting of 7 original winter quarters structures loaded with colorful displays documenting all facets of the circus. The exhibits are open to the public from May 23 – October 31, 2020, with live programming throughout the grounds from May 23 to August 30!
PHOTO GALLERY
Explore the dynamic history of how the Ringling Bros. built a circus empire in Baraboo WI.
Step right up… the tallest, the smallest, the thinnest, the fattest; strange and unusual wonders gathered from the four corners of the world; revealed inside the P.T. Barnum Side Show.
The Pfening Gallery hosts rotating exhibits highlighting unique and rare artifacts from our collection such as these hand drawn artist renderings from which the lithographers created advertising posters.
Enjoy a sampling from our vast original Circus Poster collection.
The beautiful Cinderella carriage stands before a portion of the 1916 Ringling Bros. Cinderella Spectacle backdrop. They illustrate the beauty of these early Spectacle productions as they were presented under the big top.
While the Gollmar Bros. Circus was not as large as the Ringling operation, it was well known throughout the Midwest. The Gollmar show became a railroad circus in 1903 and at its peak, traveled on 22 railroad cars.
As the golden era of the American circus faded, the beautiful parade wagons often fell into disrepair and were destroyed. These wagon carvings, along with vintage photography, are all that remain of many hand-carved circus wagons. They proudly represent the art of the American wagon builders.
On the big screen in the Irvin Feld Visitor's Center Theater, see circus documentary films for your edutainment.
Another aspect of Baraboo's rich circus heritage is explored in the Henry Moeller and Sons Wagon Works exhibit.
The Siemor Bros. Miniature Circus was meticulously hand-crafted over a 40-year period by Mel and Lottie Romeis. Thanks to the Kohler Foundation's generosity, this gargantuan miniature circus delights children of all ages in the C. P. "Chappie" Fox Wagon Restoration Center.
A wonderful new exhibit documents the Gollmar Bros. Circus of Baraboo. First cousins of the Ringling brothers, the Gollmar show was not as large as the Ringling operation, but is was a good medium sized circus and well known throughout the Midwest. Learn more... now on exhibit.
This is a small detail of the Joe Kaspar model of the 1947 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Train. View this masterpiece of railroad and circus miniature art located in the Ringling Bros. 1897 Wild Animal Barn. The circus train was over a mile and a half in length and lives on in this incredible exhibit.
