What do stories of kids running away to join the circus tell us about Wisconsin’s history?
Circus shows were in their golden age during the late 1800s. Behind the amazing feats and fun the shows promised was a major business enterprise. Circus workers formed a traveling city that was on the road nearly every day from spring through fall, thanks to the railroad. Today, Circus World stands at the site where circus history began right here in Wisconsin!
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
Why is there a circus museum in Wisconsin? What happened at the location where the museum is today?
How did the circus get from one location to the next? Have you ever been to or learned about traveling circuses before?
Who worked in the circus? How are the issues they faced part of our lives today?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 3 cards to read.
Taylor L. Bailey
Public Historian
I get to look at things and moments in history and teach others about them!
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Public Historian
I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!
Scott O’Donnell
Director of Circus World
I lead the team that runs the Circus World and share circus history and its timeless traditions with the world.
Quote from a historian
“Over a 100 circuses have come from the state of Wisconsin, which is unequal to any other state in the nation…”
Scott O’Donnell
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Hosts
Taylor L. Bailey
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Special Guest
Scott O’Donnell
Research and Writing
David Boffa
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Kate Melberg
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks
Videography
David Boffa
Colin Crowley
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Additional Production Support
Al Barcheski
Kurt Kaspar
Doug May
Zack Sieger
Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
Circus World
Tom Klug, City of Delavan
Pamela Dempsey
Tanya Schmidt
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin