Rarely Seen Photos Reveal The Strange Spectacle Of Traveling Circuses In The 1800s

Roll up, roll up: the circus is in town! With everything from clowns and acrobats to exotic wild animals on show, the 19th-century circus thrilled adults and children alike. And it was a mainstay of cultural life in America and Europe for decades. But these days, we wouldn’t dream of allowing lots of the daring acts you’d see at these shows in the 1800s. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you’d like to see inside the forgotten world of the traveling Victorian bazaar, take your seats... the show is about to begin.

40. Well-mannered lion

Of course, lions and other big cats were a staple of circuses in the 19th century. Fortunately for the demure-looking woman here, this feline seems to be especially well-behaved. This brave lady – pictured here in 1897 – was billed as a lion tamer. And she certainly seems to have found a way to keep this handsome beast calm!

39. Barnum & Bailey

It’s summertime and the people of Portland, Oregon, are in for a thrill. The famous Barnum & Bailey Circus has arrived on its first-ever visit to their city! P.T. Barnum had made himself a household name in 19th-century America with his circus, which was extravagantly titled “The Greatest Show on Earth.” James A. Bailey – already an experienced circus man – bought Barnum’s circus after the great man’s death and would retain his legendary name.

38. Tattoos and trapezes

Here in the 21st century, we’re rather used to seeing men and women covered in ostentatious tattoos. But an inked lady was a much rarer sight in the past. This is Maud Stevens Wagner, a circus performer born in Kansas in 1877. She was an accomplished contortionist and trapeze artist – as well as the canvas for countless elaborate tattoos.

37. Baggy pants

This far from jolly clown was photographed in Strabane in modern-day Northern Ireland. And we have to ask: would you smile if you had to wear pants like his? He was apparently touring with Hanneford’s Royal Canadian Circus. Incredibly, this institution has antecedents dating all the way back to 1778, according to the Sahib Shrine website. In that year, London street performer Edwin Hanneford is said to have exhibited his foot juggling skills before King George III.