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!

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!
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: This aerialist costume may not be large, but its thousands of light green bugle beads and large blue rhinestones would have made a big impression while shimmering under the lights of the Big Top. It was worn by Baraboo native Mark David Pilger, who started his career at the Circus World acrobatic school in the 1970s. He later performed a trapeze act at the Tommy Bartlett Show while hanging from a helicopter and the cloud swing and single trapeze act for multiple seasons with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Mark David traveled the world with his sensational act but still found time to return home to perform under the Circus World Big Top in 1988 and 1991.
📸: Mark David Pilger donated assorted wardrobe pieces from his time as both a student and professional, including this red jumpsuit worn during his early days at Circus World | Image ID CWi 4976
📸: Object ID 1996.1.2
📸: Image ID CWi 4974 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Great post! Local boy made good! 🙂
Mark was a classmate. Great talent. Nice guy.
𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀: Perry George “P.G.” Lowery was born into a growing Kansas African American community in 1869. As part of a musical family, he learned the cornet at a young age and played in a variety of bands throughout his early years. He trained at the Boston Conservatory in the late 1890s and was considered one of the top cornetists of the time. Lowery’s musical talents and professionalism put him in high demand, and he formed his own company that performed in minstrel or vaudeville shows over the winter and circuses during the remainder of the year.
Live music was central to circus performance in the early 20th century. While African American musicians worked for the circus, they were relegated to sideshow bands and not allowed to play in the big top. Lowery was an innovative band leader who entertained circus audiences with a vaudeville-style show. His band’s performances included ragtime music and popular dances like the Cakewalk, a very different style than seen in traditional minstrel shows. Lowery successfully operated his business enterprise throughout a 50-year career, significantly expanding opportunities for Black musicians while entertaining the masses.
📸: Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus featured P.G. Lowery and his band for many years. The band is shown here on top of a parade wagon in about 1912 | Image ID CWi 4971
📸: P.G. Lowery directed and played in the sideshow band for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919-1931. In 1920 Lowery’s band became the first African American musicians to play in a big top performance | Image ID CWi 4972
📸: Besides being a talented musician and a successful businessman, P.G. Lowery was also known for his kindness and generosity in aiding the professional development of other musicians | Image ID CWi 4973 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Thank you for highlighting the career and generosity of this talented man.
What wagon was this in 1912? Was it lost in the Hammond Indiana train wreck?
I was lucky enough to play in the band riding on #37 in the 2009 Milwaukee Circus Parade.
There's a great book about Lowery: www.amazon.com/Showman-Music-George-Lowery-American/dp/1578065569
𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: While the talented craftsmen at Circus World have beautifully restored many wagons over the past six decades, did you know they have also completely reconstructed wagons that were lost to time? One of the wagons brought back to life is the Ringling Bros. United States tableau wagon. The original wagon was part of an elaborate set debuted by Ringling Bros. in 1903 highlighting “Nations of the World.” Constructed by Bode Wagon Company for $1,500, the wagon often carried riders in patriotic or military wardrobe during parades. The wagon was no longer used after the Ringling parade was discontinued in 1920, and it eventually ended up in a field at the show’s winter quarters in Florida. Collectors salvaged carvings from the sides, and some of those carvings made their way to Baraboo and were used to reconstruct the wagon in 1991.
📸: Original wagon as it appeared on Ringling Bros. Circus | Image ID CWi 2997
📸: Heavy Burdick (L) and Bill Bahr (R) working on the United States tableau reconstruction in the Circus World wagon shop | Image ID CWi 2999
📸: Working document from Miratec Systems, Inc in St. Paul that was used to create a pattern for the wagon carvings | Image ID CWi 1961
📸: Newly reconstructed wagon loaded on the train for the Great Circus Parade in 1992 | Image ID CWi 4970 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
its so awesome. we sometimes think that history is in our history books. but for circus folks this and all you do at Circus World is more than appreciated....
I love all the articles and photos posted on Circus World! The people who do the reconstruction of these magnificent wagons are true artists. Thank you so much for saving what would have been lost forever from the circus history! God Bless ❤️❤️❤️
So majestic. Huge! Cool information. Thanks for sharing. I do forget some wagons need to be rebuilt, drastically 🙂
The extremely wide wheels are a testament to the weight of the wagon when fully loaded. It was not just a pretty face, it was a workhorse.
What works of art, beautiful!
I remember seeing this when it was the talk of the state at the parade in Milwaukee
Do the wagons still go to Milwaukee for early july?
Mother took us to winter quarters in Sarasota 1958-9-60 . We saw many junk wagons up on oil drumbs, and in piles of collapsed wood wheels and sides. So much junk strewn all over with wooden sided passenger rail cars used as living quarters. We rode the Penna. Pullman train to Tampa from Chicago , AC never worked but had old fashioned open observation car to sit on and get a breeze.
Enjoyed getting a group tour of these wagons twice now. It was narrated well.
The Clown Connection
Know our grandfather help restore one of the wagons in Baraboo back in the day, sculpture of a woman on one of the wagons
View more comments