Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

An American touring circus formed in 1919 by merging the Ringling and Barnum & Bailey shows. It closed in 2017 and relaunched in 2023 without animal acts.

Ringling Brothers Circus: An American circus founded by five Ringling brothers in 1884 and later merged with the Barnum & Bailey show. Its merger with Barnum & Bailey created the combined circus in 1919.
Circus train: A train used to transport a circus’s performers, equipment, animals, and support staff between venues. Rail transport let the large show move rapidly between distant cities.
Elephant: A large land mammal in the family Elephantidae, historically used in circuses as a performing animal. The circus’s elephant acts became a focal point of animal-welfare criticism.
The Greatest Show on Earth: A slogan associated with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and used in its promotion. The phrase captured the scale and self-image of the traditional production.
Barnum & Bailey Circus: An American circus established by P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey in 1881. Its combination with the Ringling show gave the merged circus its name.
Big top: A large tent used as the principal performance space for a traveling circus. The tent housed performances before the circus shifted toward arena venues.
Animal welfare: The well-being of animals, including their health, living conditions, and treatment by people. Concerns about animal treatment contributed to ending the circus’s elephant performances.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closure: The 2017 end of the circus’s touring performances after declining attendance and rising operating costs. The closure ended the company’s long-running touring operation.
P. T. Barnum: An American showman and businessman who co-founded Barnum & Bailey Circus. His name and showmanship became part of the circus’s enduring public identity.
Arena: A large enclosed venue designed for sporting events, performances, and other public gatherings. Arena staging became central to the circus’s later touring format.

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