This is the best kept secret on the "DELLS". This will really take you back in time. Whatever you do make sure to see the Movies at the beginning of the tour. One thing folks need to understand that this is run by volunteers and not a corporation. I really think the city should promote this Gem and if they are not putting money into it they should.
I take my kids to the Dells every year and we try and mix up the attractions we visit. The exception is the circus world. I take them every year! No place like it.
I went to Circus World years ago when my children were little and remember it as an enjoyable experience. This time I went with friends and while it was in the fall so a lot of the features weren't operating, it was still a most enjoyable experience. A great history lesson about the circus, about the Ringling brothers and Baraboo and a beautiful exhibit of craftsmanship with the array of wagons. I'm thinking I wouldn't bring little kids there unless it was summer time because they might be bored w/ all the reading one has to do to understand the displays but for adults in the fall, it was just perfect.
Stopped to see the Circus World Museum on the way home from the Wisc Dells. Since we got there around 2pm and they closed at 4, we only saw one of the many buildings that house a ton of memorabilia from the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Even with only the one building we still needed the 2 hours we had to see everything inside! Baraboo is the where the winter headquarters for the circus was. So many informative displays tracing the history of the circus from it's early days up to the modern big productions of today. Brought back lots of memories of circus performances I saw when I was a child.Next time we come up to the Dells we will make a point to spend more time at the Circus Museum and visit all of their buildings!
This is the history of REAL brothers who created one of the greatest circuses in the world....NOT a reality show. The history of the family is amazing, as is the circus trains on site and all of the other memorabilia. A Must See!!
I travel with my son and I write reviews based on Autism friendliness for the parents who want to explore with their special needs child. We were traveling across Wisconsin and happened upon Circus World. My son has never seen a real circus and we went in the off season. Which I highly recommend if you have a special needs family member. Our experience was private and had access to all of the amazing displays and buildings with absolute ease. If you have a family member with processing difficulties I recommend researching the grounds and writing a social story and planning out what you will visit but do not skip this attraction. It takes you back to a different time and imagination is such a wonderful tool that tends to be overlooked in our busy world. I can not pick a favorite because everything we viewed was simply perfect in nostalgia.
We were heading home from a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and decided to stop at Devil's Lake State Park. The day was overcast and we decided to stop by Circus World for an hour or so. Seven hours later we were one of the last to leave and we stayed the next day for the circus parade! The museum was fascinating with its many displays and real time activities. We especially enjoyed the musical interlude with the different circus instruments. The research area even checked to see if they had a record of my husband's grandfather, who had worked for Sell's Floto as a teenager. The intricacies and colorful display of the circus wagons was just amazing.
Circus World is a museum and like most museums, there is much about it that is educational. In this case, the older you are, probably the more you will appreciate the history that is captured in this place. There are parts of the museum that will keep the attention of children, but it is not just one big circus either. If you go off season, there is even less that is designed with children in mind. Having said that, I will also say that this is a wonderful place to visit! I've enjoyed it every time I have gone there and that has been several times. There are new shows each new season!
Even though we were there in the off season, we were able to enjoy a magic show and all of the circus exhibits. Not a bad half day for $9.95 each.
This is the second time I have seen the Baraboo Big Top Parade & Circus Celebration.The first time was 2004 and then again this year. What an amazing collection of restored wagons and trailers.What a magnificent display of Circus past and seeing what it must have been like to see the circus come to town at the turn of the century!If you have young children this is something worth the drive to see.Spend the week in the Dells and see what all they have to offer.