Museum Holds Circus Event

June 21, 2024 at 8:12 p.m.
Zachary Morecraft plays an operational steam calliope Friday at the Old Jail Museum’s “Museum Under the Big Top.” Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
Zachary Morecraft plays an operational steam calliope Friday at the Old Jail Museum’s “Museum Under the Big Top.” Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union

By JACKIE GORSKI Lifestyles Editor

The Old Jail Museum displayed Indiana’s circus history as it hosted “Museum Under the Big Top” from 5 to 9 p.m. in conjunction with the June Third Friday’s celebration in downtown Warsaw.
Greg Steffe, co-director of the Kosciusko County Historical Society, said during Friday’s event, there were kids events such as a duck pond. They were also selling hotdogs and popcorn. Also, one of the few operational steam calliope was played outside the museum.
The event is in conjunction with the museum’s featured exhibit this year to showcase the history of the circus in Indiana.
Steffe said Indiana has a very rich circus history. At one point, Indiana was the home of virtually every circus in the U.S., with the exception of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. People automatically think of Peru, Ind. What people don’t realize is towns like Muncie and Rochester also served as winter quarters for circuses.
Steffe said he hopes anyone who attended Friday’s event would learn an appreciation about the history of the circus.
Friday’s event was also in conjunction with Third Friday. Steffe said the museum tries to stage its open house events with conjunction with Third Fridays because there is a built-in crowd coming in to the area and it is mutually beneficial.



The Old Jail Museum displayed Indiana’s circus history as it hosted “Museum Under the Big Top” from 5 to 9 p.m. in conjunction with the June Third Friday’s celebration in downtown Warsaw.
Greg Steffe, co-director of the Kosciusko County Historical Society, said during Friday’s event, there were kids events such as a duck pond. They were also selling hotdogs and popcorn. Also, one of the few operational steam calliope was played outside the museum.
The event is in conjunction with the museum’s featured exhibit this year to showcase the history of the circus in Indiana.
Steffe said Indiana has a very rich circus history. At one point, Indiana was the home of virtually every circus in the U.S., with the exception of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. People automatically think of Peru, Ind. What people don’t realize is towns like Muncie and Rochester also served as winter quarters for circuses.
Steffe said he hopes anyone who attended Friday’s event would learn an appreciation about the history of the circus.
Friday’s event was also in conjunction with Third Friday. Steffe said the museum tries to stage its open house events with conjunction with Third Fridays because there is a built-in crowd coming in to the area and it is mutually beneficial.



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