I pulled into the Wisconsin Visitor's Center rest stop around 2am. I had planned to try
to make it as far into Minnesota or even South Dakota as I could that night. But then
I saw the brochure for the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, and knew I had to pay a visit.
With the Museum Only about 45 minutes from the rest stop, I made myself a bed in the back
of the Jimmy and set my alarm for 8am.
Wisonsin is a prime roadside attraction area, and every couple of miles you're sure to
see a sign for Robot World or the Worlds Largest Six Pack of Beer. The Circus World Museum, while
a little classier and educational than most roadside attractions, definately belongs on the list.
Baraboo is a sleepy little town, that probably lost a lot of it's gusto when Ringling Bros.
stopped using it for the winter quarters for their Circus years ago. When I arrived at the
Museum it was pouring rain, and I sat in the car waiting for the gates to open. Situated on the
grounds of the old winter quarters, I was worried there wouldn't be much to do.
The first person I met was Tiny the Clown, who put on a demonstation of applying clown make-up.
Tiny was a recent graduate of the Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Sarasota, Florida,
and this was his first clowning gig.
As towards the late morning the sun burned off the rain and fog, and the day turned out to be a
beautiful one. I even had time to take in the full circus performance the Museum puts on
(twice everyday).
NEXT STOP:
Badlands National Park
