The Ringling brothers from Baraboo, Wisconsin founded their circus in the early 1900s. John, Charles, Alf, Al and Otto were the first 5 to start their circus, but their other brothers joined, too, later.

Their show was a huge hit and then they bought their competition. That's how they became the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Show on Earth®.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus ended in July of 1956, because it was running out of money. It was the last performance under the big top. But then Ivan Feld brought the circus back better than ever with his idea for having in arenas. (Yay!)