Circus Wagons
Baraboo Wisconsin was the winter headquarters of Ringling Brothers Circus and is now home to the Circus World Museum, which has the largest collection of authentic circus wagons on earth.
There are over 260 wagons and vehicles at the site that have been gathered from across the United States and England.
Often neglected and in pieces, they have been restored by talented craftspeople.
The parade wagons are colorful, rolling showcases of the woodcarver’s art.
Beginning in the 1960s and continuing until 2009 the Great Circus Parade was held in Milwaukee and was meant to recreate the circus parades of the early 1900's.
The wagons were loaded on a train that traveled through the state and then displayed at Festival Park in Milwaukee for a few days before the parade.
In 1965 at Festival Park in Milwaukee. Me, my brother and my mom. (and some random kid climbing on the wagon)
And me, by the same wagon almost 50 years later.
I looooooove this post!! it totally makes me dream of the circus and remember the excitement when the circus came to town!! We were a small town and I am sure we got the B team - but still. So much awe.
Those days are gone - but I have to say the Cirque du Soleil is pretty amazing (but haven't seen it in person since ticket prices are pretty high for my pocket book)
Cirque du Soleil is so worth it...we saw them years ago under a big top in Denver Colorado..what an experience... this post makes me think of the days when people were simplier.
Someday, I do want to see them live. My neighbor is a fire dancer and he is performing with them in San Francisco right now.
Simpler times, for sure, Rebecca. Such a bright spot of excitement on a hot summer night.
I saw Cirque years ago in Hong Kong. What an experience! It is more theater than it is circus, though.
We had grade B circus troops come to our little town, too, but to have real elephants and tigers in our town was quite incredible for a little kid to see!
Yes!! I know. Lions!! And Elephants. So amazing!!
Hi Melinda, wonderful post!
Thanks, my friend! It is a fun place to visit!
Wow! Those pics with the shoe wagon. They outlived time! I showed this to my son and so now he's bugging me to visit there!
Ha! That just shows how old I am! I wish you could come visit. I would give you the tour!
You barely look a year over 25. You look beautiful!
Are they on display all year round?
Ha! I really don't mind being a grandma! They have been closed this winter, but will open again next month. http://www.circusworldbaraboo.org/explore/schedule/
very beautiful grobak @ malinda010100
Thanks!!
awe. those are really cool. I love the cirus!!! It always came around the same time as my birthday every year!
The town I grew up in was really small, so it was a major event when the circus came to town. I loved watching them set up the Big Top!
This post has received a 1.99 % upvote from @boomerang thanks to: @melinda010100
of some pictures you post it @ malinda010100 I saw a yellow lion to the emasan whether it is made of gold
It is carved of wood and painted gold.
oh thanks @ malinda010100 I like the greatest authentic circus cart
Wow, totally nostalgic now! I see this circus was much of your childhood as it was mine. Would be great to visit this museum someday with my boy's just when they get a bit older.
It is a great museum. I loved it when the circus came to town!
this wagon of circus is so beautiful and you are a beautiful lady♥
Thanks, my friend!
Yay!! circus wagons! I've never seen such in person. I can also watch it from movies before. ❤
They are so colorful and bring back lots of memories for me!