A day at the Circus

Once upon a time a rather flamboyant man traveled from Hungary to Wisconsin to promote free thinking and plant a vineyard. For some reason he left Wisconsin to relocate in Sonoma, California where he is credited with founding the wine industry. While Agoston Haraszthy’s Buena Vista Winery continues, the one back in Wisconsin fell into ruin. In the 1970's Wollersheim Winery took over his old land and the winery produces very nice wines, some of which are now in the motor home.

For those of us of a certain age who grew up east of the Rockies, one of the most exciting times we had was when the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus came to town, trains, tents, animals, high wire and all. The tents are gone but the early days of the circus are remembered in Baraboo, Wisconsin at the Circus Museum. For some reason (ideas please) Wisconsin was home to more than half the hundreds of circuses that entertained at the turn of the last century. Eventually, one circus dominated.
Baraboo was home to the Ringling Bros./ Barnum and Bailey Circus and the museum pays tribute to the circuses of a hundred years ago. They have restored beautiful wagons used for animals, wardrobe, tents, and in parades. European performers entertain under the big top (no longer canvass).



Our favorite was a clown with great comic routines who told us she attended school at Humboldt State (which explains a lot).



This was opening day at the museum so local volunteers put on a Buffalo Bill show. As a trip down nostalgia lane, the museum did not succeed but as an introduction for children to the idea of animal, clown, juggling and balancing acts it was a lot of fun.