CIRCUS WORLD MUSEUM

In August 1855, August Frederick Rugelsling and his wife, Salome, moved to Baraboo, Wisconsin. Frederick began a harness shop. The couple would have ten children and would later change their name to Ringling. In 1884 five of the Ringling brothers held their first circus in Baraboo. The circus continued growing over the next several years until it became “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Today on the grounds of the circus’ winter home is the Circus World Museum.  The Wisconsin State Historical Society owns the museum, and it is a designated historic site.

This is not just some big building filled with exhibits. It is an honest-to-goodness circus and so much more. Every day there are two circus performances. Additionally, there are a Kid’s World Circus performance, a circus wagon guided tour, a “Dinky Do Music Review,” “Trunk Tales,” and an aerial motorcycle show. And yes, there are plenty of exhibits to inform you of the history of the circus.

The circus theme this season is “Go West.” All the acts had a Western theme. There were all kinds of acts. Animal acts included goats, llamas, horses, and elephants. There were acts of skill and daring. And there was some clowning around. We felt like the circus performance alone was worth the cost of admission.

When you enter Circus World, you come in through the museum. There are numerous displays giving information about the circus industry and history. The largest collection of circus advertising in the world is housed here. After taking in the displays, you can exit out the rear and cross the bridge over the Baraboo River onto the Circus Grounds. The Deppe Wagon Pavilion displays the world’s largest collection of circus wagons. These wagons range from wagons small enough to be pulled by a pony to massive wagons which would require a large team of horses. Each one is unique and beautifully ornate. If you are there by 10:00 AM, you can receive a guided tour of this building and learn firsthand about the wagons. Next door is the C.P. Fox Wagon Restoration Center. This building contains a few more wagons, a large miniature circus display, a working circus calliope, and gives you a window into the workshop where the historic circus wagons are restored.

All the acts were enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed “Trunk Tales.” The museum’s two elephants were brought out, and their trainer came out with them and just told us all about them. This is the last season there will be elephants at the museum. Due to the pressure of animal rights advocates, the elephants are being retired and moved to an elephant retirement home in Oklahoma. After the show, I talked with the trainer and asked him how he became an elephant trainer. He is the ninth generation of circus performers. As a boy, he enjoyed hanging out with the elephants. He became a pooper scooper and simply grew into the job of a trainer. He has worked with these two elephants for twenty-nine years, and when they retire this fall, he will be moving to Oklahoma with them.

The Circus World Museum is the best deal in the Dells. Children 5 and under are free, 6 to 12 are $15, 13-64 are $23, and 65 and up are $20. The museum opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM during the summer. You can easily spend the entire time there. We had a great time there. I’m sure you will too.