The circus started in 1919 when the Barnum & Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth, a circus created by P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey, was merged with the Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows.

Dec 12, 2025 · Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus that became the best-known traveling circus in the United States during the 20th century. It had its roots in the circuses …

P. T. Barnum died April 7, 1891, after Barnum's death James Bailey purchased P. T.s share of the circus from his widow. Bailey continued operating the show on the east coast until December of 1897, when …

In 1919 John and Charles Ringling decided that the several circuses under their control would merge into one spectacular traveling circus, named Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus, The …

Irvin Feld had always wanted to own Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and thus have control over all aspects of the show, including production. On November 11, 1967, his dream became reality as the …

Dec 26, 2025 · The circus has had a long and storied history of entertaining audiences, and much of that history started right here in Sarasota. It all began with John Ringling, the last of the five Ringling …

Feb 3, 2025 · Barnum & Bailey’s roots trace back to 1884 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The five Ringling brothers started their circus with a borrowed horse and a handful of acts. Within a decade, their small …

Barnum passed on in 1891, followed by Bailey in 1906. By then the Ringlings had begun acquiring some of Bailey's circus properties. On July 8, 1907, the Barnum & Bailey Circus was bought by the …

The song-and-dance troupe went on the road for two seasons before adding novelty acts and purchasing the Yankee Robinson Circus. The brothers opened their first one-ring circus in Baraboo …

John Nicholas Ringling (May 31, 1866 – December 2, 1936) was an American entrepreneur who is the best known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with …