Slice of Wisconsin: Historic Circus Wagons are Home

Step right up, Circus History is alive in Wisconsin.

The circus would come to town and the whole city's would shut down.

There wouldn't be school, the stores would be closed because everybody would go to the circus.

A big part of the circus, the wagons, and now what's believed to be the last bellwagon anywhere,

is at Circus World in Baraboo, commissioned by the ringlings in 1892.

This 10,000 pound rolling musical instrument was the crown jewel of the circus parades.

There's parade wagons, but circus parades would happen to get people excited to come see the circus.

And so those are the very ornamented ones, lots of carvings.

That's Jennifer Krunk, she's the curator of history at Circus World.

Three other unique wagons owned by Felt Entertainment in Florida are also on loan for the next couple of years.

It's a slice of Wisconsin and Circus history right here, where you can relive the glory of the parade

and echo of the bells calling you to the bitter Ontario Bar.