Terrell in Kaufman County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Circus Comes to Terrell
102 E Moore
| | Historic Murals of Terrell | |
Terrell was a great circus town, and the railroads made it easy for the circus to come to town. At times, the population of the town would double on circus day.
1893 was a year of great financial panic, so the Sells Brothers Circus (one of the two largest circuses in the country at that time) cut their admission to fifty cents a person and people flooded in. At the time of the parade prior to the circus, there were an estimated 10,000 persons packed on Moore Avenue between Frances and Virginia Streets, on the side streets, and at the railroad depot. As the poster shows, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show came to Terrell with the circus!
At the far end of the mural, there is a depiction of this scene described in an article from the local paper: "W.E. Lumpkin, proprietor of the Splendid Grocery, being well aware of the weakness of country people for cheese and crackers, provided 300 pounds of the former and several boxes of the latter. Before noon, the whole supply was gone! When it is remembered that nearly every grocery establishment in the city was likewise provided it may be conjectured what an immense amount of cheese and crackers was devoured by the crowd on that day."
Historical information on this mural was obtained largely from the book "Cap'n Terrell's Town" written by Dr. Horace Flatt.
The Terrell Mural Project is an on-going endeavor to portray the history of Terrell through art. Our goal is to bring Terrell's rich history to life through our murals.
The artist for this mural is Sunny Delipsey.
Erected by Terrell Mural Project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.
Location. 32° 44.156′ N, 96° 16.634′ W. Marker is in Terrell, Texas, in Kaufman County. It is at the intersection of East Moore Avenue and Aly Road, on the left when traveling south on East Moore Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 E Moore Ave, Terrell TX 75160, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Founding of Terrell (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The American National Bank (about 300 feet away); Lyric Theatre in 1948 (about 300 feet away); Texas & Pacific Railroad Freight Depot (about 500 feet away); Terrell Volunteer Fire Department (about 600 feet away); Gov. Oscar Branch Colquitt (1861-1940) (about 700 feet away); Governor Oscar B. Colquitt (about 800 feet away); The Approaching Herd (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Terrell.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 15, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.





