Gainesville in Cooke County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Gainesville Community Circus

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016

1. Gainesville Community Circus Marker

Inscription. Editor A. Morton Smith (1903-57) organized and promoted this show after a circus parody by the town's little theater group in 1930 revealed many talented amateurs. Chartered as a non-profit corporation, the community circus used its earnings to buy tents, trucks, and costumes. Local performers practiced their acts with circus professionals who spent the winters here. Touring in the summers through Texas and neighboring states, the popular show won national fame. The Gainesville Circus declined after 1954, when a fire destroyed most of its equipment.

Erected 1975 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2098.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 33° 37.451′ N, 97° 9.05′ W. Marker is in Gainesville, Texas, in Cooke County. Marker is at the intersection of South Culberson and West California Street (Texas Highway 51), on the left when traveling north on South Culberson. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 South Culberson, Gainesville TX 76240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cooke County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gainesville, Texas Gold Star Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cooke County

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); W. T. G. Weaver (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cooke County C.S.A. / 2nd Frontier Regiment (approx. 0.2 miles away); Moffett Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); American Paint Horse Association (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Old California Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gainesville.

Regarding Gainesville Community Circus. The land the circus utilized has been made into a beautiful Medal of Honor Park. The park honors Gainesville's Medal of Honor recipients and recognizes Gainesville as the only Medal of Honor Host City in America.

Also see . . . Texas State Historical Association article about the circus. (Submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

WIde shot of Gainesville Community Circus looking at !-35. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016

2. WIde shot of Gainesville Community Circus looking at !-35.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 485 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.