Explore the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida
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Ever heard of the Ringling Bros. Circus? I’m almost 100% positive that you probably have, but did you know that the Ringling Circus Museum & Ringling Brothers Mansion is located in Southwest Florida? Neither did I! It’s actually called the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and it’s located in Sarasota. I visited over the Summer and I was shocked that I hadn’t heard more about this awesome place. It’s probably one of Florida’s coolest hidden gems! Plus, it’s a great activity for kids and it’s something fun to see and learn about when you get tired of being in the sun. They’re open daily & admission for adults is $25 or $35 if you’d like to see the first floor of the mansion as well. You can even purchase your tickets online to save some time once you get there. There are multiple buildings that sit on the beautiful grounds so make sure to allot yourself enough time to see everything. There’s an art museum, circus museum, gardens, and the Ca’ d’Zan (the mansion on the water). John & Mable Ringling purchased property in Sarasota in the early 1900’s and they started building the Ca’ d’Zan in the 1920’s.
The Ringling Brothers Museum consists of two separate buildings. The 1st building will wow you and the 2nd building is even better! The 1st building of the Circus Museum at the Ringling holds the most detailed replica of how the original circus with thousands of small figurines that are so meticulously painted (pictured above). You walk around the huge display and you can see the entire process of putting on the circus, from unloading the animals from a freight train to the performers getting their hair & makeup done to acrobats swinging under the big top. It truly is magical to see! Take your time walking through here so you can see all of the detail in the model. After viewing what the greatest show on earth was really like, you’ll make your way through the rest of the building and learn about the history of the circus and the Ringling brothers as well as see some of the elaborate costumes and how the circus changed and evolved over the years.
The 2nd building of the Circus Museum puts things in perspective even more! There are beautiful hand-painted carts and wagon wheels. There’s even a huge train car from that era that looks like it’s been frozen in time that you can view from a platform to see the interior. I absolutely loved all of the colors on the wagons & seeing these made my inner child come out & it was so easy to visualize what circus life back then was all about!
After the Circus Museum buildings, you can walk the vast grounds and see the huge trees and rose garden. Towards the back of the grounds, on the water, is where the mansion is situated, also known as the Ca’ d’Zan. Admission to the mansion is not included in the regular $25 ticket but you can add it on for an additional $10 and it’s so worth it! Mable Ringling loved the Venetian Gothic style of buildings in Venice, Italy and wanted to bring some of Venice to Sarasota. The architecture is gorgeous and I was obsessed with the zig zag design on the patio on the backside of the mansion. You’re only able to tour the first floor but I promise that you’ll be impressed! And if you have any questions or just want to know more about the history, the museum employees that monitor the Ca’ d’Zan are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Make sure you walk outside on the backside of the house so you can see the water, it’s such a great view (see the last photo)!
The Art Museum is on the other side of the grounds, across from the Circus Museum buildings and during my visit I didn’t have enough time to pop in so I’ll be visiting again soon. The art museum is full of unique pieces that John Ringling collected in various countries across the world while he was looking for talent to join his circus. There is also a gift shop in the main building where the entrance is and it’s worth stopping in. They have a great book selection, really cool art pieces, and fun gifts for kids and adults.
There’s so much unexpected history in Florida and I hope you’re able to add this to your list when you’re in the Sarasota area. It’s a beautiful place to explore and learn about the past!
Happy travels!
-Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
