Ringling Brothers Circus Tour

See where the Ringling Brothers Circus all began in this GPS guided audio adventure to 16 locations through Sarasota, Florida with 54 minutes of audio in this 14-mile driving tour.

Explore on location on a driving or walking tour, or from the comfort of your home! This limited version features 5 locations.

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Step on in Ladies and Gentlemen to the Greatest Show on Earth! In the Center Ring we have John Ringling, the founder and leader of the Ringling Brothers Circus! Today we will take you on a one of a kind adventure through time and history! So, get your peanuts, and some wonderful cotton candy, and get ready for this amazing show!

John Ringling is the most well known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Brothers Circus to create a virtual monopoly of traveling circuses, that helped shape the circus into what it is today. The Ringlings started their first show in 1870, as the "The Ringling Brothers United Monster Shows, Great Double Circus, Royal European Menagerie, Museum, Caravan, and Congress of Trained Animals", charging a penny for admission!

In 1882, it was known as "The Ringling Brothers Classic and Comic Concert Company.” By 1889, the circus was large enough to travel on railroad cars, rather than animal-drawn wagons. Admission rose to a whopping 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. In 1907, the brothers bought the Barnum & Bailey circus for $400,000, and ran the two circuses as separate entities for a few years. John worked the circus with his brothers declaring, "We divided the work; but stood together!"

John took the advance position, traveling ahead and booking the appearances, and Charles was the operating manager. The Ringling Brothers Circus was renowned for its honesty and fair dealing all over the world. So, where do we start? Where it all began of course.