Pole acrobatics with daring tricks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nShows began at 2:30 PM and lasted three hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>The First Circus in Bytown \u2013 The Ottawa Citizen<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe arrival of the circus sparked excitement and debates among locals. A week prior to the event, The Ottawa Citizen published an article with mixed reviews about the upcoming performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subsequent circuses regularly visited Bytown, eagerly anticipated by its residents. With the introduction of railway connections, the variety of performances expanded, and competition among circuses increased. This not only lowered ticket prices but also encouraged the creation of innovative acts, as audiences grew tired of the standard repertoire of riders, clowns, and tumblers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Barnum & Bailey Circus<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKnown as \u201cThe Greatest Show on Earth,\u201d the Barnum & Bailey Circus was the most renowned circus of the late 19th century to visit Ottawa. The show\u2019s magnificence reignited public interest, with each visit surpassing the last in grandeur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The circus, created by legendary showmen Phineas Taylor Barnum and James Anthony Bailey, was a product of the golden age of American circuses. By the late 19th century, over 50 circuses were touring the continent, captivating audiences with their spectacular performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Barnum & Bailey Circus visited Ottawa six times, each time delivering an even more dazzling experience than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Phineas Taylor Barnum<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBorn in 1810, Barnum began his career in New York City and later acquired Scudder\u2019s American Museum in 1841, renaming it after himself. The museum featured a zoo, aquarium, freak shows, and a lecture hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of its most famous exhibits was the Fiji Mermaid, promoted as the mummified remains of a mermaid from the Pacific Ocean. Thousands flocked to see it, though it was later revealed to be a fabricated artifact made from the body of a monkey and the tail of a fish. After the museum burned down, Barnum turned his attention to the circus, founding the P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome in 1871. He was one of the first to transport a circus by railway, revolutionizing the industry.
<\/span>James A. Bailey<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBorn in 1847, Bailey was an orphan who took his surname from the man who introduced him to the circus industry. In the early 1870s, he partnered with the traveling \u201cCooper & Bailey Circus\u201d and competed with Barnum. In 1881, the two joined forces to create \u201cThe Greatest Show on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The star attraction of their circus was Jumbo, a massive African elephant that became a sensation. Ottawa audiences saw Jumbo during his tours in 1883 and 1885. Tragically, the elephant\u2019s final performance occurred just days before his untimely death at a railway station in Ontario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Circuses in Ottawa<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAmong the six major circuses that visited Ottawa in the late 19th century, the Barnum & Bailey Circus was the largest. Transporting the show required four specially equipped trains with 68 cars to carry performers, staff, animals, tents, and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The circus parade began at 9:30 AM, featuring a vibrant display of performers, animals, and musicians. Crowds enthusiastically lined the streets to watch. Tickets cost 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children under nine. This circus was notable for including a female ringmaster and clown, and performances spanned 110 acts across three rings and two stages simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Bailey\u2019s death, the circus was acquired by the Ringling Brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Great Forepaugh & Sells Brothers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOn June 29, 1907, the Great Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Circus held a promotional event on Sparks Street and near the Sapper\u2019s Bridge, showcasing the grandeur of the upcoming show. Highlights of this circus included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n