The Story of the Ringling Museum

Created by John and Mable Ringling, the Ringling Museum is a center for the arts that is conveniently located in the center of Sarasota, Florida. After making his fortune as part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, John Ringling developed an interest in supporting the growing community of Sarasota. He and his wife began by purchasing a 20-acre property with a waterfront view, and they eventually came to own around 25 percent of the city’s land through their investments.

 

Among many other projects in the Sarasota-area, the couple established themselves as avid art collectors. They acquired a wide variety of art, including Cyprian antiquities and paintings by Baroque masters, such as Rubens and van Dyck. Eventually, the couple built a 21-gallery museum on their property to house their collection.

 

Built in a Florentine style, the main building of the museum is reminiscent of the Uffizi Gallery in Italy. The couple had taken numerous trips to Europe for the purpose of scouting out new circus acts, and they were inspired by Italian art and architecture. Accordingly, they began to collect Greco-Roman sculpture, which is now on display in the museum’s courtyard.

 

When John Ringling passed away in 1936, his will bequeathed his estate, mansion and art collection to the public. However, the museum operated irregularly until 1946, when the state of Florida successfully gained full ownership after a legal battle with creditors. While it was popular throughout the 20th century, the museum suffered from poor financial management.

 

In 2000, operation of the museum was transferred to Florida State University, which created the largest museum complex operated by a university in the United States. During the following decade, the museum experienced a revival. The museum’s old buildings were restored and new buildings were built. Today, the museum continues to serve the public by housing the Ringling’s permanent collection, organizing special exhibitions and serving as a venue for cultural events.