Baraboo in Sauk County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ringling Brothers Circus

Photographed by Jay Taylor, April 8, 2007

1. Ringling Brothers Circus Marker

Inscription. “The Greatest Show on Earth” was born and grew to maturity in Baraboo, just north of here. When the five Ringling brothers gave the first performance of their "Great Double Shows, Circus and Caravan," May 19, 1884, the main tent was 45 by 90 feet. There was no band wagon, no menagerie. The menagerie was started in 1886, with a hyena advertised as the “Hideous Hyena Striata Gigantium, the Mammoth, Midnight Marauding, Man-Eating Monstrosity.” After traveling in horse-drawn wagons for six seasons, the circus became the “Ringling Bros. United Monster Railroad Shows.” Until 1918 the circus wintered in Baraboo, where many of the winter-quarters still stand. From humble beginnings, a little hallroom show became the mightiest and most spectacular organization in the entertainment world.

Erected 1956 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 19, 1884.

Location. 43° 27.962′ N, 89° 43.858′ W. Marker is in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in Sauk County. It is on Water Street (State Highway

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113) east of Litchfield Lane, on the right when traveling east. On Highway 136 1.5 miles South of Baraboo, Wisconsin. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 743 Water St, Baraboo WI 53913, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Madison.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

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 walking distance of this marker: No. 19 Cole Bros. Circus Seal Lion Den (approx. 0.2 miles away); Indian Mounds and Village (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ringling Brothers of Baraboo (approx. ¼ mile away); Ringling Bros. Circus (approx. ¼ mile away); Camel House (approx. ¼ mile away); Ringling Brothers Circus Winter Quarters (approx. ¼ mile away); The Ringling Winter Quarters and the Baraboo River (approx. ¼ mile away); Thompson House Hotel (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baraboo.

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

Also see . . . Ringling Brothers Circus. (Submitted on April 8, 2007, by Jay Taylor of Mendota Heights, Minnesota.)

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl

2. Ringling Brothers Circus Marker

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

3. Ringling Brothers Circus Marker

This is a photo of the marker in its previous environs.

Circus World Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, July 27, 2007

4. Circus World Museum

Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin is designated a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior and is located at the site of the original Ringling Bros. Circus winter quarters. Source: http://www.baraboonow.com/circus-world-museum.asp

Circus Grounds (Baraboo River) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, July 27, 2007

5. Circus Grounds (Baraboo River)

Circus World Museum collects, preserves and interprets archival material and artifacts relating to the history of the American circus. In addition to the circus museum, it maintains and operates a circus library and research center...including the presentation of live circus performances during the summer season. The summer season includes a full range of family entertainment, including Big Top performances, stage shows, circus music demonstrations, train loading shows, clowns, elephant rides, and educational animal training demonstrations. Source: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/sites/circusworld/about.asp

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2007, by Jay Taylor of Mendota Heights, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 4,760 times since then and 87 times this year. Last updated on September 17, 2024, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2007, by Jay Taylor of Mendota Heights, Minnesota. 2. submitted on September 17, 2024, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on May 7, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 4, 5. submitted on July 28, 2007, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.