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(1810-1891) Entertainer that teamed up with Bailey to start the Barnum and Bailey circus.

Phineas T. Barnum

(1810-1891) Entertainer that teamed up with Bailey to start the Barnum and Bailey circus.

Monkey, a word loosely applied to apes, baboons, Old and New World monkeys, marmosets and lemurs.

Capuchin Monkey

Monkey, a word loosely applied to apes, baboons, Old and New World monkeys, marmosets and lemurs.

"The Old South. This venerable and venerated edifice, that stood through all the storms of the Revolution, and yet remains, stands on the corner of Washington and Milk Streets. It is of brick, and was erected in 1729-30, upon the site of an edifice built by the Pedo-baptists in 1669. The ancient church was of cedar, two stories high, with a steeple, gallery, and pews. The 'Old South' was the famous gathering-place of the people during the excitements of 1773. The British troops occupied it as a circus for the drill of cavalry in 1775, after removing all the wood-work within, except the eastern gallery and the pulpit and sounding-board. The British officers felt no compunctions in thus desecrating a Presbyterian chapel. It was repaired in 1782, and remains a fine model of our early church architecture. This view is from Washington Street."—Lossing, 1851

Old South

"The Old South. This venerable and venerated edifice, that stood through all the storms of the Revolution,…

"Ground Plan of the Circus."

Circus

"Ground Plan of the Circus."

"Spina of the Circus, from an ancient bas relief." — Smith, 1873

Circus

"Spina of the Circus, from an ancient bas relief." — Smith, 1873

"This may be done in two ways: first and most difficult, by one boy standing on another's shoulders, and then putting over both a long loose garment, long enough to reach to the knees of the lower one. This method, however, may be made much more easy by the upper player putting his feet in a kind of stirrup fastened to straps passing over the under one's shoulder's, and hanging just down to the hips. Height, of course, is sacrificed, but greater safety is secured; the giant, too, can exhibit thus for a longer time, as the attitude is not so fatiguing. The other and simpler method is to place a huge mask, which should represent a head and neck, on the top of a pole about five feet long, with a cross-piece to represent arms, and then tying a long cloak- it should be made for the purpose: any common material will do- round the neck of the mask and get bodily inside. Now, by raising or depressing the pole, the giant may be made to attain an extra ordinary stature or to shrink down again to ordinary dimensions as well. The lower end of the cloak, about two feet from the bottom, must be fastened to the performer's waist, so that when the head is depressed the cloak may fall in folds, and not sweep the ground as it otherwise would. There is a very entertaining illusion of this sort exhibited under the name of 'The Nondescripts.' Two figures with enormous heads, alternately giants and dwarfs, run about the circus and indulge in the most surprising vagaries, being able apparently to contort themselves in every imaginable direction. Their final coup is to put their heads deliberately through their legs, and make their exit with their eyes thus looking over their own shoulders."— Thomas Sheppard Meek

The Giant

"This may be done in two ways: first and most difficult, by one boy standing on another's shoulders,…

The circus

Circus

The circus

An ostrich in a circus

Ostrich

An ostrich in a circus

A monkey swinging, in the circus.

Monkey

A monkey swinging, in the circus.

A group of circus animals

Circus Animals

A group of circus animals

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought with one another and with men. These exhibitions origionally formed part of the games of the circus. Julius Caesar first build a wooden ampitheatre for the exhibition of wild beasts, and others were subsequently erected; but we frequently read of venationes in the circus in subsequent times. The persons who fought with the beasts were either condemned criminals or captives, or individuals who did so for the sake of pay, and were trained for the purpose." &mdash Smith; 1873

Venatio

"Venatio, hunting was the name given among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, which fought…

A horizontal cross-bar used by acrobats. It is often popularly associated with circuses.

Trapeze

A horizontal cross-bar used by acrobats. It is often popularly associated with circuses.

A horse trained to run around a circus ring with a man standing on his back.

Circus Horse

A horse trained to run around a circus ring with a man standing on his back.

(1810-1891) American showman famous for Barnum and Bailey Circus and "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Phineas Taylor Barnum

(1810-1891) American showman famous for Barnum and Bailey Circus and "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Men and women surround a collapsed elephant outside of the circus tent.

Circus

Men and women surround a collapsed elephant outside of the circus tent.

An illustration of a man holding an heavy ball with one arm and holding another man with the other.

Strong Man

An illustration of a man holding an heavy ball with one arm and holding another man with the other.

A circus ringleader on top of an elephant.

Man on Elephant

A circus ringleader on top of an elephant.

An illustration of a giraffe looking at a young bear cub attached to a chain.

Giraffe Looking at Bear Cub Near Carts

An illustration of a giraffe looking at a young bear cub attached to a chain.

"Circus cyaneus hudsonius. American Marsh Hawk, Harrier. Blue hawk. Adult Male: In perfect plumage pale pearly-bluish, or bluish-ash, above, with the upper tail-coverts entirely pure white; but most specimens have a dusky wash obscuring the bluish, and retain traces of brown or rufous. Five outer primaries mostly blackish, all of them and the secondaries with large white basal areas on inner webs; tail-feathers banded with 5 or 6 obscure dusky bars, the terminal one strongest and most distinct, and marbled with white toward their bases. The bluish cast invades the fore under parts, the rest of which are white, with sparse drop-shaped rufous spots; lining of wings white. From this blue-and-white state the bird is found grading by degrees into the very different plumage of the female and young: Above, dark umber-brown, everywhere more or less varied with reddish-brown or yellowish-brown, the upper tail-coverts, however, white, forming a very conspicuous mark; under parts a variable shade of brownish-yellow, or ochraceous, streaked with umber-brown, at least on breast and sides; tail crossed with 6-7 blackish bars." Elliot Coues, 1884

Marsh Hawk

"Circus cyaneus hudsonius. American Marsh Hawk, Harrier. Blue hawk. Adult Male: In perfect plumage pale…

Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt. Tightrope walkers sometimes use balancing poles and may perform the feat without a safety net for effect.

Wirewalking Toy

Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or…

An illustration of a group of fleas doing various activities seen in a circus. Some fleas are pulling a carriage with fleas inside, some are riding bicycles, and some look like they are racing each other.

Flea Circus

An illustration of a group of fleas doing various activities seen in a circus. Some fleas are pulling…

A hanging seat, usually found in a playground for children, a circus for acrobats, or on a porch for relaxing.

Porch Swing

A hanging seat, usually found in a playground for children, a circus for acrobats, or on a porch for…

"Chariot-racing was a favorite amusement, and the great circuses were arranged especially for such contests. The space was broad enough to accommodate three of four chariots side by side, each with four horses abreast."—Ridpath, 1885

Circus Maximus

"Chariot-racing was a favorite amusement, and the great circuses were arranged especially for such contests.…

An ancient chariot racing stadium used during the Roman Empire.

Circus Maximus

An ancient chariot racing stadium used during the Roman Empire.

A famous large African Bush Elephant used in the P. T. Barnum circus.

Jumbo

A famous large African Bush Elephant used in the P. T. Barnum circus.