See You in Spring 2025!

Thanks for another stupendous season! We reopen for visitors in March 2025.
Your donation supports Circus World Museum’s preservation efforts and helps us continue sharing the wonder of circus history. Give today and be part of the legacy!

Explore Circus World

What began with less than an acre of land, six historic circus wagons plus a lot of grit, determination, and passion, has now become an internationally recognized and respected institution encompassing 64 acres, 30 permanent structures, seven winter quarters buildings along Water Street, plus the Ringling Bros. Circus Train shed complex, and over 260 spectacular wagons. Circus World truly is “Wisconsin’s National Treasure!”

Our Treasures

As other entertainment forms gained popularity, Circus World began documenting and collecting important treasures of the American Circus. From original Ringling Circus buildings to the smallest flea circus prop

Our Treasures will astonish!

Start your history road trip!

Pick up your 2024 Member PastPort and start collecting stamps when you visit Circus World! Redeem your stamps for discounts or even a free year of membership!
Not a member? Join today to get in on the fun.

Get the Best Deal in History 

Wisconsin Historical Society members receive unlimited free admission to our 11 historic sites and museums, a complimentary annual subscription to the Wisconsin Magazine of History, merchandise discounts and more. Join at the Family level and above for added benefits and discounts at over 1,200 organizations nationwide! 


Follow Us!

Circus World

Circus World

23,972

Circus World - Official

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
4 days ago
Circus World

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from all of us at Circus World! 👻🎃

Circuses were usually in winter quarters by Halloween, busy refurbishing the show for the next performance season. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t, from time to time, create wagons or posters with themes that relate to holidays in the off season.

One such case is the “Witches” float. The Ringling brothers commissioned the float in 1903 from Baraboo’s Moeller and Sons Wagon Works and included carvings created by the Milwaukee Ornamental Carving Co. The float was originally part of a set of five representing locations around the globe including Egypt, India, Spain, France and Persia. But circus wagons can evolve over time and in 1916 the float was returned to the Moellers for an overhaul. Festooned with pumpkins, lizards and arching cats the vehicle was transformed into the Witches float. The wagon remained in storage in Baraboo after the Ringlings moved their winter quarters to Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1918. Later it passed into private hands and was donated to the museum in 1996 by the Marv and Mary Johnson family.

📸: Spain Foat, circa 1908. Image ID CWi 1928

📸: Witches Float, circa 1916. Image ID CWi 1929
... See MoreSee Less

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from all of us at Circus World!  👻🎃

Circuses were usually in winter quarters by Halloween, busy refurbishing the show for the next performance season. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t, from time to time, create wagons or posters with themes that relate to holidays in the off season. 

One such case is the “Witches” float. The Ringling brothers commissioned the float in 1903 from Baraboo’s Moeller and Sons Wagon Works and included carvings created by the Milwaukee Ornamental Carving Co. The float was originally part of a set of five representing locations around the globe including Egypt, India, Spain, France and Persia. But circus wagons can evolve over time and in 1916 the float was returned to the Moellers for an overhaul. Festooned with pumpkins, lizards and arching cats the vehicle was transformed into the Witches float. The wagon remained in storage in Baraboo after the Ringlings moved their winter quarters to Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1918. Later it passed into private hands and was donated to the museum in 1996 by the Marv and Mary Johnson family.  

📸: Spain Foat, circa 1908. Image ID CWi 1928 

📸: Witches Float, circa 1916. Image ID CWi 1929Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Circus World any chance we will see some announcements about next year's schedule, shows etc....?

Happy Halloween!

Will it be restored anytime soon?

5 days ago
Circus World

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: Circus World has a magnificent wardrobe collection that represents over 150 years of circus history. Much of the collection’s early 20th century wardrobe originated with the Ringling Bros. Circus, due in large part to the show wintering in Baraboo until 1918. In the years after the show left town, locals rescued circus wardrobe that had been left behind in the winter quarters buildings. Many of the pieces were later donated to the museum. According to the label inside the jacket seen here, a well-known Ringling Bros. equestrian named Dennie Curtis wore it.

The black and white image is a cropped version of a panoramic photos showing the Ringling Bros. Circus performers dressed in their Joan of Arc spec wardrobe in 1912. If you look closely at the right side of the photo, you’ll see a man who appears to be Dennie Curtis in a darker version of this jacket.

📸: Ringling Bros. Circus Joan of Arc spec wardrobe made in the Baraboo winter quarters wardrobe department and worn by equestrian Dennie Curtis 1912-1913 | Object ID 2013.39.18

📸: Ringling Bros. Circus performers dressed in their Joan of Arc spec wardrobe in 1912 | CW Image ID 1927
... See MoreSee Less

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: Circus World has a magnificent wardrobe collection that represents over 150 years of circus history. Much of the collection’s early 20th century wardrobe originated with the Ringling Bros. Circus, due in large part to the show wintering in Baraboo until 1918. In the years after the show left town, locals rescued circus wardrobe that had been left behind in the winter quarters buildings. Many of the pieces were later donated to the museum. According to the label inside the jacket seen here, a well-known Ringling Bros. equestrian named Dennie Curtis wore it. 

The black and white image is a cropped version of a panoramic photos showing the Ringling Bros. Circus performers dressed in their Joan of Arc spec wardrobe in 1912. If you look closely at the right side of the photo, you’ll see a man who appears to be Dennie Curtis in a darker version of this jacket.  

📸: Ringling Bros. Circus Joan of Arc spec wardrobe made in the Baraboo winter quarters wardrobe department and worn by equestrian Dennie Curtis 1912-1913 | Object ID 2013.39.18 

📸: Ringling Bros. Circus performers dressed in their Joan of Arc spec wardrobe in 1912 | CW Image ID 1927Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Much of the original Ringling Brothers wardrobe from before 1918 was saved by Carol (Bond) Hulterstrum when her and her sister used to play in the Winter Quarters buildings on Water Street in Baraboo. The watchman at the times saw the girls playing with the wardrobe and let them take some of the unused wardrobe home. Carol was the custodian of these great pieces of wardrobe all the rest of her life and carefully cared for these pieces. When I did a display in downtown Baraboo for the Ringling Circus Carol allowed me to display her collection of Ringling wardrobe. Upon her passing her daughters, who I went to school with, found a note instructing them to contact me so that I would deliver the wardrobe to Circus World Museum. Without her love for these pieces of historic material we would not be able to appreciate this archive. Thank you Carol for your vision and dedication.

The fringe on the jacket is made out of twisted pieces of metal. The coolest. And it survived all these years.

2 weeks ago
Circus World

👻 Ghost stories from Circus City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 🎪

The haunted history of Baraboo comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Visit the Old Baraboo Inn to catch a glimpse of the spirits who checked in but never checked out. Or take a drive down the infamous Highway 12, but keep your eye out for the road's very own spectral hitchhiker.

Be sure to add The Ghostly Tales of Baraboo by author Anna Lardinois to your fall reading list.

Shop NOW: wihist.org/40heUYl
... See MoreSee Less

👻 Ghost stories from Circus City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 🎪

The haunted history of Baraboo comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Visit the Old Baraboo Inn to catch a glimpse of the spirits who checked in but never checked out. Or take a drive down the infamous Highway 12, but keep your eye out for the roads very own spectral hitchhiker. 

Be sure to add The Ghostly Tales of Baraboo by author Anna Lardinois to your fall reading list. 

Shop NOW: https://wihist.org/40heUYl

Comment on Facebook

Circus World there’s also the travel channel episode of Hometown Horror, Three Ring Terror.

Ah "When the Ghost Walks" was an expression in old English theatre and circus communities meaning that you were assured of getting paid that week!

Just outside baraboo in North Freedom, in the cemetery many nights we'd see a bright orb bouncing amongst the memorials there. As if someone with a lantern was walking amongst the graves.

I have this book and have been waiting to read it! Now is a great time.

A friend and I saw the hitchhiker on Hwy 12 years ago...

Will Brown Sam Brown Captain Zach Brown Dianne Brown

Lynn Wyman

Lisa Hammermeister Schell

Leigh Dorsey

View more comments