Janesville in Rock County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Burr Robbins Circus

Photographed by Keith L, September 23, 2009

1. Burr Robbins Circus Marker

Inscription. This site served as the Spring Brook Farm winter quarters for the Burr Robbins Circus from 1874-1888. This show was once reported as the third largest circus in America. In 1874, Burr Robbins bought E.P. Doty's 100-acre farm and converted it into a village of sorts, complete with homestead, animal house, horse barn, riding hall, root house, and paint, blacksmith and harness shops. The farm, named for the brook that flowed through it, also had a deer park surrounded by a tall picket fence. Burr Robbins, a respected Janesville citizen, poured thousands of dollars into the local economy every year. The circus was considered as valuable to the city as any manufacturing establishment. Showing his fondness for the community, Burr Robbins once said, "when my wanderings are over, I shall ever turn my face toward Janesville with joy."

Erected 2000 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 454.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 42° 40.088′ N, 89° 0.751′ W. Marker is in Janesville, Wisconsin, in Rock County. It can be reached from Beloit

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Avenue north of Delavan Drive, on the left when traveling north. Marker is along a paved bike trail at Jeffris Park / Pat Dawson Field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 850 Beloit Avenue, Janesville WI 53545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Madison.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Black Hawk War / Black Hawk's Grove (approx. one mile away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 1.1 miles away); First Congregational Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); First State Fair (approx. 1.1 miles away); Janesville Tank Company (approx. 1.1 miles away); James E. Croft (approx. 1.9 miles away); Veterans Plaza - Medal of Honor Veterans Walkway (approx. 1.9 miles away); La Prairie Grange Hall (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Janesville.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of Wisconsin circus markers.

Photographed by Keith L, September 23, 2009

2. Burr Robbins Circus Marker

Pat Dawson Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, September 23, 2009

3. Pat Dawson Field

The marker, slightly visible, is in the distance beyond the parking lot.

Burr Robbins Circus Marker on the Ice Age Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gary Sonnenberg, May 27, 2025

4. Burr Robbins Circus Marker on the Ice Age Trail

Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,640 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on October 26, 2017, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 25, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on May 29, 2025, by Gary Sonnenberg of Waukesha, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.