For some reason the subject of the Circus World Museum over in Baraboo, Wisconsin has come up several times in recent weeks. Maybe it’s because Debs is anticipating the Budweiser Clydesdales visit this weekend in Wausau. The Clydesdales were one of the featured attractions of the Circus Museum.
My memory takes me to a trip our family made in the late ’60s to Baraboo and I think Nana and Grandpa George came along. I know we visited the museum building that has a lot of artifacts from the past including a large organ that played continuously.
It was a sunny June day with, I think Debs, Kelly (she remembers some things about the visit) and I think Chris. I know it was June because Circus employees were preparing for their annual trip by train to Milwaukee for the Circus Parade in early July. As we walked the Circus grounds, they were loading big Circus wagons onto flat bed railroad cars practicing for the real trip in several weeks. I don’t remember if they used Clydesdales to pull the wagons onto the train or not. Debs remembers standing on the flatbed railroad car before they actually loaded it.
The highlight of the day was the performance in the “Big Tent”. They had tents set up with bleachers in a large circle. I think the whole thing was “free”. We paid to get into the Circus Museum grounds, but everything except food was free after that. The “Big Tent” performance was spectacular. I remember trapeze acts as well as animal and juggling performances. I think it lasted about an hour.
It was one of those special days that started out to be just a visit to the Circus Museum and ended up being so much more.
Several weeks later, the Circus Train made its way across the Wisconsin countryside visiting lots of small towns. I think the journey from Baraboo to Milwaukee took 3-4 days. It got to Milwaukee usually on Thursday evening and then Sunday would be the huge parade down Wisconsin Avenue. I remember the 40 horse hitch (Chris would call it a hutch) with 40 Clydesdales all hooked to one large Circus wagon snaking its way through the streets.
So I’m sure when Debs watches the Budweiser Clydesdales this weekend, she will travel back in time. The camera will be clicking and the air will be filled with smells and memories. Enjoy the trip.
The lesson Grasshoppers is you never know when special moments will come along. That is why they are special. The day in Baraboo with family enjoying the old tradition of a an Old World Circus will always be special.
Love,
Dad