Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey coming to Pittsburgh • Oct. 16, 2026, 4:38 PM ET (CBS)

Facts

Also Known As Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows
Date 1907 - May 1917
Areas Of Involvement circus • freak show • clown
Related People P.T. Barnum • Philippe Petit

Photos

Barnum & Bailey circus poster
P.T. Barnum
Jumbo's skeleton
Ringling Brothers
Ringling Bros.
John Ringling
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Clyde Beatty
Emmett Kelly
An animal trainer stands in front of two Asian elephants sitting on stools and performing under circus lights.
See All Images →