When I was in high school, I became a vegetarian. I also was against zoos, circuses, and buying leather. I supported animal rights and also became an atheist. Now I eat meat a couple times a week, still support animal rights but lean towards being agnostic. I guess people never stay the same as they get older. The reason why I don't like circuses is because I felt it was cruel for animal to learn tricks, entertain people, and not get paid! In seriousness, Why would you want to be an animal trainer? Profit, I guess, but taking a wild animal out of its natural habitat and making it jump through hoops, ride a bike, twirl around is not great, natural, or entertaining to me. Though I do like to read/ hear the history regarding circuses when it comes to the people, especially the side show, that's my favorite. Anyway, the husband and I went to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota this weekend. We have been going for the last 4 years in February to escape the cold New York weather. Matt's parents invited us to stay with them for a couple of days at their rental house. So this year, I decided to go to the museum, since I've never been. Part of the Ringling, is the Circus Museum. John Ringling (one of the 7 Ringling brothers) made the circus' winter headquarters in Sarasota, FL in 1927. As soon as you walk in there is a 22 feet high by 42 feet long mural done by painter, William Woodman. It was commissioned by Field Entertainment (a parent company for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey) for the lobby of their corporate headquarters in Virginia. Then after 22 years there, it was moved to the Ringling in Florida. They also had circus posters and newspapers from 1890's. With over 44,000-pieces, the Howard Bros. Circus Model recreates the dioramas of the train cars, circus tents, scenarios, animal training, and the side shows! The second floor host a timeline about Barnum and Bailey and the progression of the circus. It also hosted memorabilia, props, costumes, masks, more posters and wagons. Aw, a Jumbo the elephant poster. One of my favorite taxidermist, Carl Akeley help mount Jumbo. I read about it from Kingdom under glass by Jay Kirk. It was such a sad story on how he died (hit by a train). After the circus museum, we went to the Courtyard! Look at this place, so beautiful! After leaving the museum, we went straight to the beach. It was a warm day, but the water was still too cold to go swimming. The husband splashed around instead. I went back to work the next day, and my short vacation felt like it didn't exist. I must stay longer next time!
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My short blog topics include: photography, music, science, crafts, vacation photos, movies, events in NYC, and of course stop motion animation.
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