Ringling Brother’s Circus Wagon

Step right up and discover the circus magic that once toured America.

Legend has it that a circus arrived in McGregor via steamboat in 1870, and a pole-balancing performer sent his repairs to a local harness maker named August Ringling. Instead of paying for the work, he provided tickets to the show. August took his family, including his sons.

The Ringling brothers loved the performance and it inspired them to start their own performances. It's believed that they performed their inaugural show in a hayloft in McGregor. The entrance fee was paid in straight pins used for women’s hair — what was then a precious commodity.

You can catch this display on A Street, behind Josies River Queen in McGregor, Iowa.