Barnum Museum Bridgeport, CT
For those who have a taste for the unusual Bridgeport CT’s Barnum Museum is a playground. Located in downtown Bridgeport, CT, the museum is one of the last surviving buildings of American visionary and entrepreneur and entertainer Phineas Taylor Barnum.
About P.T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum, or P.T. Barnum, was a politician, businessman, and American showman. He is most widely known for his celebrated hoaxes and for starting the Barnum & Bailey Circus. His career started as a successful promoter in New York City. During 1841 to 1868, he was in charge of running the Barnum American Museum. In 1871, he started Barnum & Bailey Circus and began traveling the country with spectacles for the entire family.
Barnum’s specialty in promoting and marketing was his strong suit. He had a way of creating stories around the items in his exhibit as well as the people some would argue he exploited to earn a profit. He was highly successful in his approach.
It was his museum work that earned him the notoriety and popularity of everyone from street folks to the Queen of England. His diverse career included museums, circuses and even boosting the local economy of Bridgeport CT. He also made his way to the Connecticut Legislature and was elected the mayor of Bridgeport. Barnum served multiple terms throughout his political career.
Barnum is highly celebrated as one of the most foremost commercial entertainment gurus of the 19th century. Today, he is remembered for his philanthropic endeavors in science and in entertainment. The Barnum Museum is a highlight reel of all of his efforts throughout the 19th century.
The Museum’s Exhibits and Artifacts
The Barnum Museum is the primary authority on P.T. Barnum’s life and work. It features over 60,000 artifacts that have to do with the life and legacy of Barnum, the Bridgeport CT area, and the 19th century. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to its extensive list of artifacts.
Featuring artifacts from 19th-century science and history, the museum primarily features P.T.’s personal collection, but ongoing exhibits also highlight rarer artifacts of the era. It is the last surviving building that was a part of P.T. Barnum’s collection and represents his legacy.
Prior to his death, Barnum envisioned the Barnum Institute of Science and History as a final and lasting legacy. The museum would be a lifelong celebration of American scientific and cultural advancement. His devotion to the project knew no bounds, with his land, property, and funds being used to build it. Unfortunately, he failed to live long enough to see it to fruition. He suffered a stroke in 1890 and passed away just one year later. The building was opened 2 years later in 1893 in his honor and has been a hallmark of the downtown Bridgeport CT area ever since.
Today, the museum’s goal is to support the legacy of P.T. by inspiring curiosity, confidence, and creativity through entertainment that instructs. It’s a great place to visit for families and individuals alike.
About P.T. Barnum
Phineas Taylor Barnum, or P.T. Barnum, was a politician, businessman, and American showman. He is most widely known for his celebrated hoaxes and for starting the Barnum & Bailey Circus. His career started as a successful promoter in New York City. During 1841 to 1868, he was in charge of running the Barnum American Museum. In 1871, he started Barnum & Bailey Circus and began traveling the country with spectacles for the entire family.
Barnum’s specialty in promoting and marketing was his strong suit. He had a way of creating stories around the items in his exhibit as well as the people some would argue he exploited to earn a profit. He was highly successful in his approach.
It was his museum work that earned him the notoriety and popularity of everyone from street folks to the Queen of England. His diverse career included museums, circuses and even boosting the local economy of Bridgeport CT. He also made his way to the Connecticut Legislature and was elected the mayor of Bridgeport. Barnum served multiple terms throughout his political career.
Barnum is highly celebrated as one of the most foremost commercial entertainment gurus of the 19th century. Today, he is remembered for his philanthropic endeavors in science and in entertainment. The Barnum Museum is a highlight reel of all of his efforts throughout the 19th century.
The Museum’s Exhibits and Artifacts
The Barnum Museum is the primary authority on P.T. Barnum’s life and work. It features over 60,000 artifacts that have to do with the life and legacy of Barnum, the Bridgeport CT area, and the 19th century. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to its extensive list of artifacts.
Featuring artifacts from 19th-century science and history, the museum primarily features P.T.’s personal collection, but ongoing exhibits also highlight rarer artifacts of the era. It is the last surviving building that was a part of P.T. Barnum’s collection and represents his legacy.
Prior to his death, Barnum envisioned the Barnum Institute of Science and History as a final and lasting legacy. The museum would be a lifelong celebration of American scientific and cultural advancement. His devotion to the project knew no bounds, with his land, property, and funds being used to build it. Unfortunately, he failed to live long enough to see it to fruition. He suffered a stroke in 1890 and passed away just one year later. The building was opened 2 years later in 1893 in his honor and has been a hallmark of the downtown Bridgeport CT area ever since.
Today, the museum’s goal is to support the legacy of P.T. by inspiring curiosity, confidence, and creativity through entertainment that instructs. It’s a great place to visit for families and individuals alike.