On a beautiful day in March, I had plans to meet up for a lunch at The Ringling Grill. The restaurant is located in the box office lobby for entry to The Ringling property in Sarasota, FL. On the property is an art museum, John and Mable Ringling’s home Ca’ d’zan, gardens, and a Circus Museum. This is a “must visit
if ever in the Sarasota area.

My time was limited. I started with a quick stroll through the Glass Pavilion in lobby before stopping to get my tickets for the Circus Museum. Absolutely amazing pieces of glass art – really, how did the artists do some of these pieces?

The Circus Museum is a separate building and I had not been in it for maybe 15 or more years. It was more incredible than I remembered. And it had expanded to include manylotss well newer items on display and exhibits.

The mural called ‘the Greatest Show on Earth’ is just inside the entrance – beautiful and so colorful – an oil on canvas! Donated in 2012 by the Field Entertainment company when they moved from Virginia to Florida.

Quite detailed with the famous circus performers names on the information board.

The docent directs you to the main exhibit — a miniature circus model created by Howard C. Tibbals over 60 years working 20 or more hours a week. He donated it to the museum in 2004 and continued to work on it until the last circus wagon was installed in 2021. He died in 2022. What a legacy!

You have to see it to believe it. Here are a few photos to provide a sampling. I spent at least 45 minutes just looking at the model and reading the signage about what is displayed. So much was going on outside of The Big Top. Then you get to see the inside of The Big Top. The detail is incredible!

When you see the inside, you are able to imagine how huge this circus really was back in its prime.

The exhibits in the museum continue in other rooms with real circus wagons, and a huge room filled with all kinds of circus relics, sample tightrope wire, etc.

A final exhibit I explored was the history of circuses. Quite interesting to read and learn how far back these shows were being held around the world.

Last you are directed to a separate room to see the restored John and Mable Ringling’s Rolls Royce automobile and their private Pullman rail car The Wisconsin. A fascinating bit of history to enjoy and let your imagination go back in time.

Leaving the Circus museum, the beautiful day awaits. No more time to explore today — definitely a place to return to again and again.