Category: Uncategorized

Hard Feelings about “Soft Soap”

Over the last few weeks our blog stories have centered on P. T. Barnum’s “stateside” connections and activities, as he directed his American Museum from afar and corresponded with family members in Connecticut.  Continue reading “PTB Letters (#34) Hard Feelings about “Soft Soap””

So Much to Talk About These Days!

The Barnum Museum is fortunate to have extraordinarily talented artists, performers, writers, thinkers, designers and innovators as part of its century-old service to our community.  Continue reading “Community Engagement Message from the Executive Director”

“A Heart to Feel for Others More”

Since this is the week when families in America traditionally gather—in normal times—to celebrate Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, it seems appropriate to share another of P. T. Barnum’s letters home to his wife, Charity, with updates on the family matters we’ve been exploring in previous letters.  Continue reading “PTB Letters (#33) “A Heart to Feel for Others More””

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

And, off we go into a ‘different’ but all the same joyful holiday season!

Continue reading “Community Engagement Message from the Executive Director”

“The Laborer is Worthy of his Hire”

Over the last several weeks we’ve gotten to know some of the key staff members of P. T. Barnum’s team at the American Museum in New York, by piecing together details from the letters Barnum wrote from France.  Continue reading “PTB Letters (#32) “The Laborer is Worthy of his Hire””

A Happy Thanksgiving Message from the Barnum Museum!

Continue reading “Community Engagement Message from the Executive Director”

“Illusions” at the American Museum

Last week we learned of Barnum’s plans for a brand-new attraction at the American Museum—a physioscope, which he described in a letter to Fordyce Hitchcock, manager of the museum.  Continue reading “PTB Letters (#31) “Illusions” at the American Museum”

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AMUSEMENT PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS

HALL OF FAME Inductee – P.T. BARNUM!

I’m sure it’s hard for everyone reading this to believe that Super Storm Sandy was 8 years ago!  Continue reading “Community Engagement Message from the Executive Director”

First-Rate Attractions for the American Museum

P. T. Barnum was never lacking ideas for attractions to bring to his American Museum in New York, and he was certainly an enthusiastic supporter of a mid-19^th century popular phenomena: visual illusions in a variety of forms. Continue reading “PTB Letters (#30) First-Rate Attractions for the American Museum”