Visit the Ringling Museum Complex in Sarasota, Florida where you and your family will find an assortment of interesting and entertaining features. This is where John Ringling had his home and where he managed his famous circus referred to as “the greatest show on Earth.”
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was an eagerly anticipated event as it travelled across the country. Although the last show occurred in 2017 after running 146 years, mementos and artifacts are on display to relive those magical times at this 66-acre (26.7-hectare) estate.
The Circus Museum shows what a herculean effort it was to set up and tear down this massive event. Follow the arduous process of transporting equipment, materials and animals and the sheer logistics of putting on the show. Inside the museum you’ll find interactive displays and actual circus machines, such as the truck that carries a cannon for the human cannonball act.
The Ringlings also had a great fondness of the arts, which you’ll discover in the Museum of Art. Wander through galleries to see contemporary and classical art pieces. Included in the collection are works by Rubens, Battista, Veronese, a copy of Michelangelo’s David in the courtyard, and Asian art. Take either a self-guided visit or a tour of the museum.
The Ringlings’ palatial residence, Ca’ d’Zan, impressively incorporates new inventions of the time with those that were more traditional. The artwork is expansive throughout the building. Spend time on the inviting terrace leading down to the water and imagine the opulent occasions that were held there. Off to one side of the mansion is John and Mable’s final resting place. Mable’s rose garden is also nearby.
Get to the Ringling Museum Complex on Bay Shore Road with parking available near the main entrance. Admission has a fee. Plan to spend a few hours on the accessible estate with so many things to see and do.
