Ringling Museums-Sarasota, Florida
- Jonathan Elmore
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 10
I love travelling. Well, I like being somewhere different. The travelling part can be a pain sometimes, but I do it to get somewhere else for a little bit. One occasion I went somewhere was another Florida vacation. I went to St. Pete's to see some big water and the Salvador Dali Museum. Review of that one coming soon. But this time we went to Sarasota for a different set of cool things like The Ringling Circus Museum and the adjacent John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
I didn't know at the time that there were two separate museums. I just saw RINGLING and got hyped up to see some vintage circus stuff. Walking into a beautiful art museum was a little jarring since my mind was set on clowns and acrobats. But, since I'm one of the most easy going guys around, I switched modes and toured the wonderful art museum filled with pieces from all over the world that the Circus mogul and his wife collected. After the art, we walked the grounds to see some really impressive landscaping that lead to what I had originally came for, The Circus.
We went into the circus entrance and it was everything I hoped for and more. The history of this traveling circus was all out on display, posters, props, parade vehicles, souvenirs, and a miniature of the whole specatcle. I didn't get to go to a circus until much later in life, so growing up, I dreamed about the very things I was getting to see now. It was as fulfilling as going to the big top for the first time.
If you're ever in Southern Florida on the Gulf side, stop in this museum. It's wonderful.
5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, Florida
941-359-5700
