Sarasota, FL - Under the Big Top #2

Although the miniatures were the highlight of the Tibbals Learning Center, there was also a full scale museum and a hands-on section where you can try your hand at parts of circus acts.

Gary and I certainly tried out some of these:

Gary on the ‘low’ wire.

I always wanted to be a bare back rider. Do I look precarious - or do I look as if I might fall on my face any minute?

Here’s what I really looked like - falling on my face.

Then there were other items that were actually used in the Ringling Bros circus. Here is the cannon developed by the Zacchini’s who were experts at being shot out of a cannon. They developed this cannon which was ‘state of the art’.

Two at once.

Here’s a circus parade cart for the lions and tigers.

The railroad car in which the Mable and John Ringling rode between cities. It was found in a junk pile and has been lovingly restored.