About Circus World Museum

Circus World Museum collects, preserves and interprets archival material and artifacts relating to the history of the American circus. In addition to the circus museum, it maintains and operates a circus library and research center. Through its exhibits and educational outreach programs, Circus World Museum strives to encourage an appreciation of the historic role of the circus in American life, including the presentation of live circus performances during the summer season. The summer season includes a full range of family entertainment including stage shows, circus music demonstrations, train loading demonstrations, clown acts, animal and carousel rides, and educational animal training demonstrations. During the fall and winter seasons, exhibit facilities are open for self-guided tours. A variety of seasonal programs change as the seasons do.

Exhibits

The W.W. Deppe Wagon Pavilion exhibits include 50 beautifully restored circus wagons, a circus train exhibit, and an exhibit titled From Horse Power to Horsepower. In the Irvin Feld Exhibit Hall and Visitor Center, exhibits include The Story of the Ringling Brothers, A Century of Spectacle, Trumpets of Paper, and a big-screen video about the Ringling Brothers. A miniature circus, a clown exhibit and a host of other small exhibits can be found in the nearby Ring Barn.

Wagon Restoration

In the C.P. Fox Wagon Restoration Center, visitors can view antique circus wagons awaiting restoration and see the specialized tools that skilled craftsmen use to re-create the splendor of historic circus wagons.

Library and Research Center

The Robert L. Parkinson Library and Research Center, established in 1965, is the world's largest and foremost facility for documenting and researching circus history. Collections include circus posters, handbills, business records, personal papers, photographic prints, films and more. It is named after Robert L. Parkinson (1923-1991), who served as director of the library from 1965 to 1991. The library is free and open to the public, and is located at 415 Lynn St. on the museum grounds. Appointments are encouraged.

Governance

The Wisconsin Historical Society owns Circus World Museum and its collections. The museum operates under a lease-management agreement with the nonprofit Circus World Museum Foundation, Inc. The Foundation was originally incorporated as the Historic Sites Foundation, and a management agreement with the Wisconsin Historical Society was approved in 1960. The board includes at least nine but not more than 21 elected directors including a representative of the city of Baraboo and the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, a Governor's appointee, two members of the Society's governing Board of Curators, the Society's Director and honorary directors.

Circus World Museum Foundation Board of Directors