Not only was John Ringling a famous circus star, he was one of the leaders in the growth of Sarasota. How do we know? Because we live here! His famous home C da' Zan is now a museum, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. And John Ringling and his brother Charles Ringling built important roads and buildings in Sarasota in the 1900s.

Today, Sarasota is the home of the Ringling School of Art and Design, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the John Ringling Causeway, which he built and then donated to the city of Sarasota.

John Ringling moved the circus here in 1927. Sarasota has been known for circus ever since. We were even once the home of the Circus Hall of Fame, but when we wanted to visit it we found out it's now at St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota. It's the center of downtown where people can walk around the circle of wheels and read about the people who were inducted to the Circus Hall of Fame.

Thanks John Ringling (and brothers) for Sarasota's circus!!!