Long time ago

Many of you know that the "America" was originally a telescoping tableau on the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1903. It was built by the Sebastin Wagon Works. In 1917, the telescoping portion was removed and the line above the portraits was added to the wagon's structure. Barnum & Bailey kept this wagon from 1903 to 1918 and then stored it at the Bridgeport winter quarters until 1927. It was then sold to George Christy who had Christy Bros. Circus. In 1934 it was sold to Jess Adkins and Zach Terrell for their new show, the Cole Bros. Circus. They used it in their parades from 1935 through 1938 and left the wagon in storage in 1939. The Steam Calliope was added in 1939 and the wagon went out on Parade again in 1940. From 1941 to 1945 it was again left in storage at the Louisville, Ky. winter quarters of the Cole show. From 1946 to 1950, it was back on the Cole Bros. Circus. The Cole show was going bust by then and it was sold in 1952 to Cleavor Brooks which is a steam and boiler company out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cleavor Brooks kept it until 1959 when they donated it to the Circus World Museum. The wagon is 21 feet long, 10'9" tall and 8' wide weighing about 9 tons. The photo is a Universal Slide Company issue.