Sarasota's Marvelous Circus History

Almost everybody recognizes the name of Ringling Brothers in relation to that famous circus that puts on “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Yet, few people outside of Florida realize the storied history that this venerable circus has in shaping the city of Sarasota, Florida.
Back in the early 1900s John Ringling was considered to be the fifth wealthiest man in America at the time. Therefore, money was no object when he and his brother Charles purchased 67,000 acres of land that was destined to become Sarasota. Originally, they viewed this land as a good investment. In 1927, the Ringling Brothers needed to find a suitable winter home for its traveling circus. That is when they made the decision to move their famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to the beautiful land by the sea.
Charles Ringling was nicknamed “Mr. Charlie” by his employees and was greatly admired both for his personal advice and community participation. He gave land to the city for a courthouse and was big on community development. The estate built by Charles and his wife Edith was purchased by New College of Florida and is often used to host events. The investment was one of the best ones made in the century and provided financial benefits for decades to come, reports Sambla.
John Ringling and his wife Mable also built an estate and enjoyed collecting fine art. During the time John resided in Sarasota, he collected over 600 paintings and other artistic pieces from around the world. Today, visitors to the area can see this collection at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. After visiting fine art, it is just a short walk to Ringling’s Museum of the Circus. John Ringling’s love of the arts extended to his founding of the Ringling College of Art and Design, which opened in 1931.
When the circus came to Sarasota it also brought along a rich cultural tradition that remains today.