Day 203 Monday, January 9, 2023
Big day planned today! Elli picked us up and we headed to The Ringling Museum. So much fun!! The museum has several gardens and art exhibitions but the highlight for us was the Circus Museum. The Circus Museum includes circus posters and art, circus wagons, Ringling's private railcar the Wisconsin, and a scale model of a 3 ring circus. The property also includes the Ringling mansion Ca d'Zan and Bayfront Gardens.
The most impressive part was the circus model built by Howard Tibbals. The model is a 3/4 inch to 1 foot scale replica of a a circus and all the associated tents, trains, wagons, animals, performers and workers needed to erect, maintain, and create the circus experience as it traveled cross country.
Tibbals started when he built a model circus train car as a teenager. Ringling Bros. denied his request to use the Ringling name on his model so he named it the Howard Bros. Circus. The model covers 3,000 square feet, took over 60 years to complete and has over 42,000 pieces he made by hand!
The exhibit is very detailed and starts with the trains loaded with everything needed for the big event. Animals, tents, tools, seating, cooking supplies; everything needed in a small city. The ticket booth even has a cash register with tickets and money inside. No one can see them but Tibbals knew it was there.
Unloading the railroad cars 
The Circus parade.
The folding chairs actually fold.
Do you know this clown??
1 comment:
Beautiful area and wonderful museum! Thanks for sharing such great photos with us. It must have been so great to spend time with friends. Safe travels in your journey.
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