The circus used to call Sarasota, Florida home during the winter months. Once called “The Circus Capital of the World”, you will still see reminders of the days when the circus reigned supreme. From street names to the Circus Arts Conservatory, and the circus ring of fame. They all honor the history and modern-day impact of John and Mable Ringling’s presence in Sarasota.
The Ringling is home to the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, Ca’d’Zan, Asolo Theater and the beautiful Bayfront Gardens. This destination is perfect for the entire family. Add this to your list of things to do if you find yourself in the Sarasota area!
The Circus Museum
Come one, come all to the Circus Museum! On display you will see glittering costumes of old, colorfully painted wagon wheels and trolley cars. Come take a look at Ringling’s private rail car in all its splendor.
Step right up and test your circus skills with interactive installations. Try squeezing into a clown car. Test your balance with a tight rope walk. No need to fear if you hate heights, it is safely on the ground.
There is original art, newspaper articles, photographs, and posters on display from the height of circus entertainment. 
The art for the circus is so iconic and beautiful. It is fun to see the colorful advertisements for the circus because it was a production in of itself. Especially anything depicting the acrobats or clowns. Those are incredibly fun and highlight performances. Reading the posters for the human “oddities” was a little disturbing with how degrading or exploitative they were. I found it fascinating and upsetting that this was how their acts were described. It is hard to view things of the past with our modern lens, but it feels sad no matter the time.
Despite this, the museum stays lighthearted and whimsical throughout. You can even watch footage from circuses, new and old. Enjoy more multimedia interactive experiences throughout the galleries.
The Tibbals Learning Center
The Tibbals Learning Center is the home of the world’s largest circus model. The detail of this handmade model is incredibly impressive. The model spans 3,800 square feet and has over 42,000 pieces! The creator, Howard Tibbal grew up loving the circus and channeled his love and creativity into creating this model. You can watch the video all about the creation before entering the exhibit. Watching this will give you greater insight into what it takes to create something on this scale and the amount of detail you won’t even see at a cursory glance.
The model shows the large-scale production of the circus and what goes into the circus “coming to town”. From trains to animal grounds, he covers it all in the model. The model transitions from day to night with its lighting. And when night descends upon the model, the show starts! Watch the acrobats spin under the big top. The closest thing I’ve been to a circus is the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show. Yet, this model gave me nostalgia for something I never had. This model encapsulates what I always imagined those old-time circuses were like. It lets the viewer travel back to that time and feel the excitement of a big show coming to a small town.
Ca’d’Zan
Further along the property, along the water is one of the most gorgeous estates you will ever lay eyes on in the United States. The Ca’ d’Zan is an opulent mansion that looks like a European palace. Formally the home of John and Mable Ringling, this mansion is inspired by Venetian architecture. Afterall, they were dubbed the king and queen of the circus, obviously they would commission a palace. At that time, the Ringlings were one of the richest families in the country. This 36,000 square foot home took 2 years to build, 1924-1926, and was the whopping sum of 1.5 million dollars which would roughly cost 26 million today.
Walk the grounds and marvel at the architecture. Sit on the back terrace and enjoy the views of the bay. Marvel at the old trees and beautiful gardens! Or take a guided tour to see the interiors of the mansion.
The Museum of Art
First opened in 1932, you can see the original galleries that opened the museum of art. This features an array of European art from medieval to 19th century art. These galleries circle the incredible courtyard. 
The courtyard is my favorite portion of the museum of art. Water features, marble and stone statues and stunning Italianate architecture make this a show stopping centerpiece to the art museum. The bronze replica of the David that is the main focal point.
See James Turrell’s installation, Joseph’s Coat: A Skyspace. If you haven’t experienced a James Turrell art installation, you must run to any museum that has one! This one is like experiencing a sunset for the first time. It isn’t just art with light but a meditative experience. This is located in the Searing Wing.
The Chao Center for Asian Art and The Monda Gallery
Visit the Chao Center for Asian Art’s rotating exhibits. There are three main galleries that span over 3,000 years of history. Highlighting ceramics, sculptures, and found objects covering the continent of Asia.
The Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art features artists that are living and working today with non-traditional modalities. Here you’ll find installations, performance art, video and new media works.
Visiting The Ringling
The Ringling Museum of Art is free every Monday. The circus museum and any tours of the Ca’D’Zan are both separate tickets that you will need to purchase. The museum store on site is fantastic and is loaded with unique and fun souvenirs. The Ringling is open 7 days a week but be on the lookout for holiday hours. The parking is ample and free. You may also bring a picnic if you’d like to enjoy the grounds! There is the Ringling Grillroom for dining and Mable’s Coffee House for a delicious beverage. Be sure to enjoy the grounds themselves. The views of the bay and the mangroves are some of Florida’s natural beauty at its finest. Enjoy your time at The Ringling!
