ISHPEMING — Most summers, Ishpeming had at least one circus coming to town. During the summer of 1902, there were two major shows to head to Ishpeming.

“The Iron Ore is able to announce by authority that Ringling Brothers World’s Greatest Shows will exhibit in Ishpeming Wednesday June 18.

“Of all the great amusement enterprises that America has produced, this is the greatest, and a visit from this splendid amusement institution is always looked forward to with eager anticipation. And this is not surprising in view of all the facts. Ringling Brothers’ circus is not a circus of ephemeral growth. It represents the best thought and the most untiring energy of its proprietors and originators during a period of over fifteen years.” (Iron Ore, May 24, 1902)

The show came by train, a rather long and impressive train. Ishpeming had an excellent place for the production in Union Park.

The train could unload at the site, since the street railway had a line that went past the park. Plus, Union Park was far enough away from either Ishpeming or Negaunee, that the noise and more importantly, the odors of the circus did not bother the residents of either city. After all, 30 elephants, 500 horses and all the other wild animals produced a lot of manure!

For Ishpeming, not only was the circus a huge entertainment, but it also brought people to town. “Ringling Bros. employ over a thousand men, women and children. To feed this great company of people requires a daily average of 900 pounds of bread, 1,000 pounds of meat, 420 gallons of coffee and everything else in proportion. These supplies, as well as 10 tons of hay, 300 bushels of oats and 25 bushels of corn for the horses, have to be secured daily in the city where the show is exhibiting.” (Iron Ore, May 31, 1902)

The show did bring unwanted guests to Ishpeming, however, as most circuses had gangs of thieves travelling to and from the towns where they put on their shows. The thieves were not a part of the circus, but took advantage of the fact that most people did not lock their doors and that a good part of their population was at the performances.

Ads started appearing in the newspapers, extolling the delights of the show. Rare wild animals, an equine ballet, 30 elephants, performing seals, 500 horses, three rings, two stages and about 100 acts would all appear.

“The superb company of acrobats which Ringling Brothers have secured for their circus this year, illustrates, as never before, the magnificent possibilities of the human form in the absolute perfection of physical development. Not only are these performers the greatest exponents of acrobatism that the world has ever produced, but they are handsome, superbly developed men and women, whose lives are a tribute to the value of modern athletic training.” (Iron Ore, May 31, 1902)

“At the head of the list is the famous Nelson Family. This giant company of acrobats embraces ten men, women and children. Their act is original with themselves, and in its intricate novelty as well as the ease with which the most difficult and thrilling evolutions are performed, it has no peer in the wide world. The costuming of this great act is also a matter for comment and unstinted praise.

New features that will also attract attention when the show exhibits in Ishpeming Wednesday, June 18 are the performances of the Roberts Family, the exceptionally clever acrobatic feats of the Pettits and the Dibolian Brothers and the beautiful posing of the far-famed Kawalskis.” (Iron Ore, May 31, 1902)

With each article the hyperbole and anticipation built. In addition, ads were plastered everywhere.

“No one in Ishpeming needs to be told that next Wednesday, June 18th is circus day. Evidences of the fact are apparent on every side. The date of the big show stares one in the face from every point of vantage, while the entire city has assumed the appearance of an open-air picture gallery.

Sylph like riders, pirouetting upon the backs of madly dashing steeds; human meteors, whirling through space; acrobats performing the most incredible feats of strength and daring; elephants imitating the comedy of the human actor; the fierce beasts of the jungle and the strange and curious things of foreign lands – these are the things that have been pictured in brilliancy of coloring and perfection of detail – on paper.” (Iron Ore, June 14, 1902)

“The free street parade which introduces the circus day is the most gorgeous display of the kind ever attempted. This great pageant leaves the show grounds between 9 and 10 o’clock. It is an immense affair.

It is over two miles and length. Hundreds of horses, scores of magnificently carved and gold-illuminated cages of wild beasts, and dozens of magnificent historic floats give diversity to the picture.” (Iron Ore, June 14, 1902)

“Ringling Bros’ circus, bigger and better than when it was in this region two years ago, appeared at Ishpeming yesterday to an audience that aggregated 20,000 people for the afternoon and evening performances. The ‘biggest show on Earth’ well deserves its title. There is the usual line of entertainments peculiar to all circuses, but with this difference in Ringling’s everything is first class in every particular, the performers are artists are of highest repute while the acts given are something imitated by others but not duplicated.

The big show arrived at Ishpeming during the early morning hours, from the copper country where the show had enjoyed good business in a two days’ exhibition there. The arrival was greeted by the usual collection of small boys and their numbers were swelled soon after by the ‘older’ boys. From that time on even until the last stake was driven every detail of making ready was watched by large and interested crowds.” (Mining Journal, June 19, 1902)

“Early in the day people from surrounding towns and residents of the city swarmed the down-town streets and by the time of the parade, which did not move till nearly twelve o’clock, the streets which were to be traversed by the pageant were filled to their utmost capacity. Immediately after the parade the rush to the park began. The street cards handled an immense crowd, busses moved many to the objective point while hundreds walked.” (Iron Ore, June 21, 1902)

“The performing seals and elephants were the wonderment of the vast audience, their acts eliciting deafening applause.

Ringling Bros are certainly justified in their claim that they have the ‘greatest show on earth.’ They are fine gentlemen to do business with; courteous and obliging and do exactly as they agree.” (Iron Ore, June 21, 1902)

“The show left from here for Escanaba enroute to Duluth and other cities of the Northwest.” (Mining Journal, June 19, 1902)