The information sheet on the wagon reads:
"The Wild West Show, defined as "an exhibition illustrating scenes and events characteristics of the American far west frontier", had its beginning with Cody & Carver's Prairie & Rocky Mountain exhibition in 1883. Since that time, well over 100 wild west shows have taken to the road in this country. Featuring indian attacks on stage coaches and covered wagon trains, hold-ups by outlaws and rescues by the U.S. cavalry, these exhibitions were usually given in large rectangular arenas surrounded by seats on three sides. A canvas side wall enclosed the seats and arena but only the seats were covered by canvas, the large center space being open to the sky. This wagon was used on Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Real Wild West. That show was on the road from 1907 through 1916 and from 1925 until it finally closed in Washington, D. C. in 1931. the title varied somewhat from time to time, "Arlington" being included in 1914-1915 and "Great Far East" being added in 1926-27. The show usually employed 30 railroad cars which included 7 for stock, 8 coaches, 14 flats and 1 for advance.
The wagon is 15' long, 10' high.
Visiting the museum and the wagon:
Performance Season
Circus World Performance Season Admission prices
Adults $14.95
Senior citizens (65 and older) $12.95
Children (5-11)
(children under 5 are free) $7.95
Off-Season
Circus World Off-Season Admission prices Type Cost
Adults $7
Senior citizens (65 and older) $6
Children (5-11)
(children under 5 are free) $3.50
Hours
Performance Season
May 17 — Sep 1, 2008
Open daily: 9 am—6 pm
Off-Season
Apr 19 — May 16, 2008
Open daily: 10 am—4 pm
Sep 2 — Oct 27, 2008
Open daily: 10 am—4 pm
Oct 28, 2008 — Apr 18, 2009
Open weekdays only: 10 am—4 pm
From the Circus World web site:
"The Ringling Bros. Circus was founded in Baraboo, WI, in 1884 by five brothers: Al, Otto, Charles, John and Alf T. Ringling. Ringlingville was the name for the original Ringling Bros. Circus winter quarters in Baraboo. The buildings, standing along the north bank of the Baraboo River, date from 1897 through 1918 and are the largest surviving group of original circus structures in North America. There are also remains of a footbridge which employees took to cross the river in the winter.
The world-famous circus wintered in Baraboo for 34 years until 1918, the year before it merged with the Barnum & Bailey Show (which the Ringlings purchased in 1907) to become the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows.
As the heyday of the great railroad circuses began to fade, John M. Kelley, who for 33 years had been the Ringlings' personal attorney, envisioned a museum where the golden era of this stupendous entertainment medium could be preserved.
At his retirement in 1954, Kelley incorporated the Circus World Museum as a historical and educational facility. Following state-wide fundraising efforts, the museum was deeded debt-free to the state and opened to the public July 1, 1959.
The original museum site, which began on less than once acre, included the Ringling Camel House and Ring Barn properties both acquired in 1957. Over the years, land and structures were added. Today Circus World Museum encompasses approximately 64 acres of land with approximately 30 permanent structures; including four more original winter quarters buildings and the original Ringling Bros. Circus Train complex.
The museum's collection of circus artifacts is perhaps the largest in the world. It includes over 210 original wagons and vehicles once used by American, English and Irish circuses. It houses an exceptional collection of circus ads and posters. Over 9,500 multi-colored circus posters range in size from half-sheets to an 80-sheet Buffalo Bill Wild West poster which measures 9’ high and 70’ long. Thousands of journals, manuscripts and business records are available as well as original fine art oil paintings, hand bills, heralds, programs, artifacts of circus performers and a collection of rare photographs and negatives."