St. Thomas in Elgin County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Jumbo

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 11, 2014

1. Jumbo Marker

Inscription. On September 15, 1885, the giant African elephant, star of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, met a untimely death when struck in St. Thomas by a Grand Trunk locomotive. To commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of this tragic event, the citizens of St. Thomas and Elgin County erected this monument which was designed and constructed in Sussex, New Brunswick by Winston Bronnum. The city of St. Thomas provided the site. Listed on these plaques are the names of the Jumbo Centennial Committee members and donors who made this tribute to Jumbo possible.

Click on the image to read the list of donors.

Erected 1985 by Jumbo Centennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Animals. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1814.

Location. 42° 46.731′ N, 81° 12.495′ W. Marker is in St. Thomas, Ontario, in Elgin County. Marker is on Talbot Street close to King Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 70 Talbot Street, St Thomas ON N5R 3C9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 24 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. Thomas Canada Southern Railway Station / Gare ferroviaire de St. Thomas (approx. 1.8 kilometers away); Isaac Crouse (approx. 22.8 kilometers away);

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King Street Bridge (approx. 22.8 kilometers away); Middlesex Court House (approx. 22.9 kilometers away); The Founding of London (approx. 23 kilometers away); The Gaol and Courthouse, London, c.1843 (approx. 23 kilometers away); The Petition of John Ewart (approx. 23 kilometers away).

Also see . . . Jumbo the Circus Elephant and His Tragic Death - Awesome Stories. Captured in Africa, Jumbo spent time in London - where he was greatly loved - until Phineas T. Barnum purchased him to star in his circus. Londoners were most distressed to see him leave, in 1882. (Submitted on October 27, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 11, 2014

2. Jumbo Marker

Jumbo and his keeper Matthew Scott image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, n/a

3. Jumbo and his keeper Matthew Scott

The tragic death of Jumbo image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Unknown, circa 1885

4. The tragic death of Jumbo

Photographed By Unknown, September 15, 1885

5. Jumbo dead

Jumbo's Post-mortem Career image. Click for full size.

The Strobridge Lithograph Company, 1888

6. Jumbo's Post-mortem Career

...The colossal and prodigious frame of the largest and noblest animal that ever lived. The only elephant skeleton ever publicly exhibited. A strange & amazing show without a parellel [sic]. Mounted by Prof. Henry A. Ward, the distinguished naturalist & scientist of Rochester, N.Y.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 745 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 27, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 6. submitted on October 28, 2014. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.