Circus World Museum
Circus World Museum is open year round for circus fans seeking a glimpse into the long and storied past of the American circus. The Museum's massive collections are a treasure trove of American circus history. Off-season offerings include daily, self-guided tours of the Irvin Feld Exhibit Hall and Visitor Center, W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion and C.P. Fox Wagon Restoration Center. The buildings house exhibits that include the world's largest collection of one-of-a-kind antique circus wagons, rare circus posters and graphics, and displays that tell the story of the Ringling brothers and the circus that made them famous.
Most of the buildings that comprise historic Ringlingville, the National Historic Landmark where the Ringlings housed their circus from 1884 until 1918, are also open for self-guided tours. And the museum store offers a fine selection of circus-themed novelties, apparel, books, posters and other unique items for the circus fans on your gift list.
During the summer, Circus World Museum's offerings include daily circus performances, guided tours, children's activities, and clown shows. Check http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/circusworld/schedule.asp for the current schedule.
Circus World Museum is home to the Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center, the world's foremost research facility for circus history. The library's collections cover all aspects of American circuses and Wild West shows. The holdings document the history of the American circus from its inception in 1793 to the present day. The Museum collects and preserves all types of material, from the business records of circuses to pieces of ephemera such as posters and heralds. It also houses a small collection of materials from related fields such as carnivals. The Wisconsin Historical Society owns Circus World Museum and its collections, which are independently managed by the not-for-profit Circus World Museum Foundation. The library was established in 1965 to manage and maintain the museum's paper, image and sound materials. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/circusworld/research.asp
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