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The Barnum Museum, One of the Great New England Museums

Phineas Taylor Barnum was arguably theconfluence of different cultures, Barnum
greatest showman of all time. He had a knackadjusted the exhibits, shows and educational
for finding and exhibiting unusual people,materials to accommodate different cultures
animals and a range of oddities, some of themand tastes as well as each strata of the
hoaxes, such as the Feejee Mermaid.While thesocial classes of the times. There was
Barnum & Bailey Circus continues as a livingliterally something for everyone.The public
testament to his talent for promotion, he wasresponse was almost as varied as the museum's
also a politician and journalist anddiversity. Some loved the museum/theatre and
enormously influential both here in the U.S.some were appalled by it.The flames of that
and in Europe during the 19th century. Heoutrage were fanned by Barnum's support of
could tomanipulate the press in ways thattemperance, and on July 13, 1865, the
render today's spin doctors inept hacks.P.T.American Museum was burned to the ground. It
Barnum, as he was best known, was born inhas never been determined who set the fire.
Bethel, Connecticut on July 5, 1810. AfterHe subsequently built a new museum further
his father's death in 1826, rural life fadeduptown, which also burned down.He is perhaps
as his ideal, and he was drawn to the citybest known, however, for two special finds:
lights of Brooklyn, New York, where he workedTom Thumb and Jenny Lind.It was in 1842 that
for a short time as a store clerk.His ownhe discovered Charles Sherwood Stratton, whom
fascination with curiosities, strange andhe dubbed Tom Thumb, a man who stood only 25
bizarre, convinced him that hisinches tall and weighed a mere 15 pounds at
contemporaries of the era would be likewiseage 11.Barnum invested two years in training
captivated, so he set out to make collectingTom to sing, dance and mime, then embarked on
and displaying peculiarities his career. Hisa world tour with his tiny friend who
reading of the sentiments of the times wasperformed for fascinated domestic and
right on, and people gathered in largeEuropean audiences, including royalty and
numbers at the various venues he built, inAbraham Lincoln. Tom Thumb became a "must
particular, the American Museum in Newsee" in the American Museum.Jenny Lind, whom
York.The first of his endeavors involvedBarnum called "The Swedish Nightingale" was a
Joice Heth, whom he billed as "The Greatestmusical prodigy. She could play the piano at
Natural & National Curiosity in theage four and developed an extraordinary
World."Telling those interested that thesinging voice, which she amply demonstrated
story-telling, African American woman was 161to the influential and political, including
years old, he convinced his audiences that,President Millard Fillmore, General Winfield
as a slave, she had tended to a young GeorgeScott, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Henry
Washington.When a prominent physician paredWadsworth Longfellow, Washington Irving and
back her true age to 80 after her autopsy,others.The Barnum & Bailey Circus, which he
Barnum insisted that her body was a fake anddubbed "The greatest show on earth" is his
that she was still performing elsewhere.Inmost enduring legacy.Mixing politics with his
1841, Barnum founded and built the Americanpassion for the bizarre enabled Barnum to
Museum in the heart of "Old New York City."serve a one-year term as mayor of Bridgeport,
It comprised an eclectic blend of sensationalConnecticut, and he served two terms in the
and gaudy attractions, including Tom ThumbConnecticut legislature.The Barnum Museum is
and the Feejee Mermaid, natural history withan excellent chronicle of the life and times
exhibits displaying taxidermy and menageries,of Phineas Taylor Barnum and very much worth
and art, wax figures and a Lecture Room anda visit.Jim Hyde, an author, award-winning
theatre in which Shakespeare was performed.Towriter and syndicated columnist, is editor
many historians and social scientists, theand co-owner with his wife, Terry, of a
American Museum was the bedrock of New York'stop-ranked New England Website,
urban evolution.Remarkably perceptive of theNewEnglandTimes.Com, which covers travel,
changing demographics of the city and thetourism, real estate and lifestyles.



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