Rocky Mount in Nash County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
P.T. Barnum
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 14, 2011
1. P.T. Barnum Marker
Erected 1956 by Archives and Highway Departments. (Marker Number E-61.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1865.
Location. 35° 58.454′ N, 77° 48.014′ W. Marker is in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in Nash County. Marker is at the intersection of North Wesleyan Boulevard (Bypass U.S. 301) and Smokey Road, on the right when traveling north on North Wesleyan Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1221 N Wesleyan Blvd, Rocky Mount NC 27804, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Falls of the Tar Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); First Post Office of Rocky Mount (approx. 0.8 miles away); Donaldson's Tavern (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lafayette (approx. 0.9 miles away); Falls Road Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); Rocky Mount Mills (approx. 1.1 miles away); Rocky Mount Mills School (approx. 1.1 miles away); Sanitation Workers' Strike (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Mount.
this page online
Regarding P.T. Barnum. In November 1836, P.T. Barnum dazzled the people of Rocky Mount Falls, North Carolina. However, it was with
the words of a sermon, not with the performance troupe
that the “World’s Greatest Showman” captivated his audience. Barnum had recently separated from his associate Aaron Turner’s act which had been touring in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. To form his own circus troupe he took with him Signor Vivalli, an Italian juggler and tight ropewalker, James Sanford, a black singer and dancer, several musicians, horses, wagons, and a small canvas tent. Their first stop together was in Nash County. Barnum stayed the night of November 12 at Rocky Mount Fall’s Stage Coach Inn. In his autobiography, Barnum wrote that, the next morning, he accompanied the landlord to the Baptist church. Before entering the church, Barnum noticed a grove with a stand and benches. Desiring to speak to the congregation, Barnum was permitted by the preacher to announce that he would speak for a half an hour after the service. Approximately 300 people stayed to listen to Barnum preach. About the sermon he delivered Barnum wrote, “I told them I was not a preacher and had very little experience in public speaking; but I felt a deep interest in matters of morality and religion and would attempt, in a plain way, to set before them
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 14, 2011
2. P.T. Barnum Marker
Barnum and his traveling show performed together until June 1838 before moving on to bigger and grander
things. In 1841, he purchased Scudder’s American Museum on Broadway in New York City. The museum, which showcased all sorts of oddities and curiosities, led to Barnum’s fortune. In 1881, he combined his P. T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus with James Bailey and James Hutchinson, resulting in "P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show on Earth, and the Great London Circus, Sanger's Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United." In 1888, the "Barnum & Bailey Greatest
Show on Earth" first toured America. Among Barnum’s most famous acts over the years were the midget General Tom Thumb; Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale” soprano; and the Siamese twins, Eng and Chang. (North Carolina Office of Archives & History)
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Website: http://www.ringling.com/explore/history/ptbarnum_1.aspx
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 14, 2011
3. P.T. Barnum Marker. looking north at N Wesleyan Blvd. (US 301 Bypass) and Airport Road
Photographed By Mike Stroud, October 14, 2011
4. P.T. Barnum Marker looking south along N. Wesleyan Blvd. (US 301 Bypass )
Internet Archive
5. P. T. Barnum
from George Washington Bungay, 1854, Off-Hand Takings.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 833 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on May 5, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 23, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on June 22, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
