menagerie

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A "menagerie" can refer to a place where animals are kept and trained for exhibition, or the collection of animals itself. Historically, circus menageries were a significant feature, often displayed in separate tents before the main performance, housing a variety of exotic animals.12

The term "menagerie" has also evolved to describe a varied mixture or an unorganized collection of different things. This can include a diverse group of people or a jumble of objects. The word originates from French, initially meaning household or farm management.13

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circus
The menagerie
By the time American circuses achieved their massive character in the 1870s, the menagerie was a major feature, and it remained so through the 1940s. Circus menageries in the United States were exhibited in separate tents, and audiences passed through them before going into…
Read More
By the time American circuses achieved their massive character in the 1870s, the menagerie was a major feature, and it remained so through the 1940s. Circus menageries in the United States were exhibited in separate tents, and audiences passed through them before going into…
Read More