Did Kids Really Run Away to Join the Circus? | The Look Back

What do stories of kids running away to join the circus tell us about Wisconsin’s history?

Circus shows were in their golden age during the late 1800s. Behind the amazing feats and fun the shows promised was a major business enterprise. Circus workers formed a traveling city that was on the road nearly every day from spring through fall, thanks to the railroad. Today, Circus World stands at the site where circus history began in Wisconsin!

NOTE: Closed captions and a transcript for the episode are available in Spanish.