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Wikipedia

Circus Hall of Fame

January 01, 1970

The International Circus Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame which honors important figures in circus history. It is located in Peru, Indiana, on the former grounds of the Wallace Circus and American Circus Corporation Winter Quarters, also known as the Peru Circus Farm and Valley Farms. The property includes rare surviving circus buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its historical importance.[3][4]

Wallace Circus Winter Headquarters
Buildings and a circus wagon at the Hall of Fame
Nearest cityPeru, Indiana
Coordinates40°45′16″N 86°1′11″W / 40.75444°N 86.01972°W / 40.75444; -86.01972
Area9 acres (3.6 ha)
Built1892 (1892)
NRHP reference No.87000837[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 1987
Designated NHLFebruary 27, 1987[2]

Property history edit

The Peru property was a prosperous farm when it was purchased in 1891 by Benjamin Wallace, owner of the Wallace Circus. From then until 1944 the property served as the winter quarters for a succession of circus companies, most created by succession or merger with Wallace's operation. In 1921, the American Circus Corporation acquired the property and Wallace's circus operation, and expanded the facilities. American Circus was sold to John Ringling in 1929, and it housed Ringling Brothers operations until declines in the circus business prompted its closure in 1944. The property was then returned to agricultural use, and a number of the surviving circus-related buildings were significantly altered or demolished.[3]

Museum history edit

The Ringling Brothers Circus had established their winter quarters in Sarasota, Florida in 1927, with a large amount of help by Victor Sabattini (1916–2010), an insurance executive, who later became the president and chairman of the board. In the mid-1950s the idea to create a hall of fame to honor outstanding circus artists was conceived of by circus fans in the Sarasota community and in 1956 the Circus Hall of Fame opened. Located near the Sarasota airport, the Hall of Fame included exhibition space in several buildings filled with circus memorabilia, including personal effects from famous circus artists and impresarios – costumes, props, posters and circus wagons. In addition to the exhibits, the Circus Hall of Fame presented circus acts several times a day, during several months each year.

In addition to visits by Florida tourists, the Circus Hall of Fame received national exposure. NBC-TV broadcast "The Circus Hall of Fame All Star Circus" on Sept. 12, 1970. The host, Ed McMahon, conveyed congratulations to the four newly named inductees to the Circus Hall of Fame for 1970 including famous circus performers, The Rieffenach Sisters (bareback riders), aerialists Mayme Ward and Ira Millette, and circus impresario Billy Smart Sr.

Although up to 80,000 tourists visited the Circus Hall of Fame each year, by the late 1970s it was unprofitable and the owners prepared to close the museum. In 1980 the lease on the property expired and on May 27, 1980, the Sarasota Circus Hall of Fame had its last performance.

In 1981 a group of citizens from Peru, Indiana, learned that the effects of the Circus Hall of Fame were for sale. Interested in preserving the circus artifacts and concerned that they might be auctioned off separately, Indiana residents, businesses and the state government contributed to the purchase of the entire collection to bring it to the former Wallace property in Peru. Many other items have since been added to the original Sarasota collection, including 16 historical wagons reconstructed in the Hall of Fame wagon shop and the Peru Wagon Works Shop.

Prominent inductees edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ . National Historic Landmarks Program. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Charleton, James H. (April 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Wallace Circus Winter Quarters". National Park Service. and Accompanying four photos, exterior and interior, from 1984
  4. ^ "International Circus Hall of Fame". IndyStar.com. July 13, 2008. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2008.

External links edit

  • Official website

January 01, 1970
circus, hall, fame, international, museum, hall, fame, which, honors, important, figures, circus, history, located, peru, indiana, former, grounds, wallace, circus, american, circus, corporation, winter, quarters, also, known, peru, circus, farm, valley, farms. The International Circus Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame which honors important figures in circus history It is located in Peru Indiana on the former grounds of the Wallace Circus and American Circus Corporation Winter Quarters also known as the Peru Circus Farm and Valley Farms The property includes rare surviving circus buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its historical importance 3 4 Wallace Circus Winter HeadquartersU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkBuildings and a circus wagon at the Hall of FameShow map of IndianaShow map of the United StatesNearest cityPeru IndianaCoordinates40 45 16 N 86 1 11 W 40 75444 N 86 01972 W 40 75444 86 01972Area9 acres 3 6 ha Built1892 1892 NRHP reference No 87000837 1 Significant datesAdded to NRHPFebruary 27 1987Designated NHLFebruary 27 1987 2 Contents 1 Property history 2 Museum history 3 Prominent inductees 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksProperty history editThe Peru property was a prosperous farm when it was purchased in 1891 by Benjamin Wallace owner of the Wallace Circus From then until 1944 the property served as the winter quarters for a succession of circus companies most created by succession or merger with Wallace s operation In 1921 the American Circus Corporation acquired the property and Wallace s circus operation and expanded the facilities American Circus was sold to John Ringling in 1929 and it housed Ringling Brothers operations until declines in the circus business prompted its closure in 1944 The property was then returned to agricultural use and a number of the surviving circus related buildings were significantly altered or demolished 3 Museum history editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message The Ringling Brothers Circus had established their winter quarters in Sarasota Florida in 1927 with a large amount of help by Victor Sabattini 1916 2010 an insurance executive who later became the president and chairman of the board In the mid 1950s the idea to create a hall of fame to honor outstanding circus artists was conceived of by circus fans in the Sarasota community and in 1956 the Circus Hall of Fame opened Located near the Sarasota airport the Hall of Fame included exhibition space in several buildings filled with circus memorabilia including personal effects from famous circus artists and impresarios costumes props posters and circus wagons In addition to the exhibits the Circus Hall of Fame presented circus acts several times a day during several months each year In addition to visits by Florida tourists the Circus Hall of Fame received national exposure NBC TV broadcast The Circus Hall of Fame All Star Circus on Sept 12 1970 The host Ed McMahon conveyed congratulations to the four newly named inductees to the Circus Hall of Fame for 1970 including famous circus performers The Rieffenach Sisters bareback riders aerialists Mayme Ward and Ira Millette and circus impresario Billy Smart Sr Although up to 80 000 tourists visited the Circus Hall of Fame each year by the late 1970s it was unprofitable and the owners prepared to close the museum In 1980 the lease on the property expired and on May 27 1980 the Sarasota Circus Hall of Fame had its last performance In 1981 a group of citizens from Peru Indiana learned that the effects of the Circus Hall of Fame were for sale Interested in preserving the circus artifacts and concerned that they might be auctioned off separately Indiana residents businesses and the state government contributed to the purchase of the entire collection to bring it to the former Wallace property in Peru Many other items have since been added to the original Sarasota collection including 16 historical wagons reconstructed in the Hall of Fame wagon shop and the Peru Wagon Works Shop Prominent inductees edit1958 Lillian Leitzel 1960 William C Coup 1960 James Anthony Bailey 1960 P T Barnum 1961 Bird Millman 1961 The Ringling Brothers 1962 Dan Rice 1963 Adam Forepaugh 1963 May Wirth 1963 Victor Pepin 1964 Isaac Van Amburgh 1964 Philip Astley 1965 Clyde Beatty 1966 Con Colleano 1969 Mabel Stark 1970 Billy Smart Sr 1971 Karl King 1972 Felix Adler 1972 George A Hamid Sr 1973 Otto Griebling 1974 Buffalo Bill Cody 1974 Tom Mix 1975 Merle Evans 1975 The Zacchini Brothers 1977 William Preston Hall 1979 The Wallenda Troupe 1980 Mollie Bailey 1981 The Albert Hodgini Troupe 1986 John Ringling North 1987 Irvin Feld 1987 Bertram Mills 1989 Lou Jacobs 1991 The Great Wilno 1994 Emmett Kelly 1996 Knie family 1997 Annie Oakley 1997 Thomas Taplin Cooke 1999 Gunther Gebel Williams 2001 Elvin Bale 2003 Hugo Zacchini 2005 Miles White 2006 Kenneth Feld 2006 Francis Brunn 2009 Cecil B DeMille 2009 Paul Binder 2010 Henry Ringling North 2011 Norman Barrett 2012 Freddie Freeman 2014 Terry Cavaretta 2016 Barry LubinSee also editHagenbeck Wallace Circus Terrell Jacobs Circus Winter Quarters International Clown Hall of FameReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 Wallace Circus Winter Headquarters National Historic Landmarks Program National Park Service Archived from the original on June 5 2011 Retrieved June 5 2009 a b Charleton James H April 1985 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Wallace Circus Winter Quarters National Park Service and Accompanying four photos exterior and interior from 1984 International Circus Hall of Fame IndyStar com July 13 2008 Archived from the original on January 26 2013 Retrieved August 4 2008 External links editOfficial website Journals of Yesteryear Hall founded to honor circus folks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circus Hall of Fame amp oldid 1211679457, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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