Beginning in July and continuing through December, the Barnum Museum presents Humbug & History, a dynamic lecture series exploring P.T. Barnum’s remarkable life, legacy, and lasting impact on Bridgeport and American culture.

2026 Programs Presented by the Barnum Museum 

Humbug & History

Distinctive. Memorable. A Little Bit Fun.

Beginning in July and continuing through December, the Barnum Museum presents Humbug & History, a dynamic lecture series exploring P.T. Barnum’s remarkable life, legacy, and lasting impact on Bridgeport and American culture.

Through engaging talks by historians, authors, and cultural experts, the series moves beyond myth to reveal the real stories behind Barnum’s rise to popularity, his era in American history, and the communities that helped shape his dreams, visions and character.  From early beginnings in Bethel to global celebrity, each program offers a fresh look at history where spectacle, innovation, and truth intersect.

The series also connects to broader questions of historic preservation, including the Barnum Museum’s own history of being saved from demolition and its ongoing restoration, as well as the timely conversation about the White House East Wing, examining what it means to protect and preserve America’s most significant historic places for future generations.

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