January 9, 2023 – Circus

On this day in 1768, the very first modern circus was staged in London by an equestrian named Philip Astley. All the components of a circus – trick riders, acrobats, clowns, trained animals – have existed throughout history. But Astley was the first to create a space where all these acts were brought together to perform a show. Astley performed his trick horse riding in a 42-inch circle, which is still the standard size of a ring used today. He didn’t call his show a “circus” though, instead calling it Astley’s Amphitheater. The word “circus” comes from Ancient Rome, where a circus was a building that housed horse and chariot races, gladiator fights, and displays of wild animals. The first modern circus was brought to the U.S. and opened in April 1793 in Philadelphia. It was revolutionized by P.T. Barnum, who launched the traveling P.T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie & Circus. He introduced the first multi-ring circus and was also the first to transport his show on circus trains. Learn more here.