In 1836, Barnum met Joice Heth, a woman who would change the course of his life forever. Heth was blind and almost completely paralyzed, but she could still speak, and what she was saying sparked an idea in Barnum. Heth claimed to be the 161 year old former nurse of George Washington. Barnum was intrigued both by her story and by the possibilities presented therein. If Heth could catch his attention, how many others would be lured in by this oddity as well?
With that, Barnum decided to start a small company and, acting as her manager, took Heth on a tour throughout the South of the U.S. He demonstrated a knack for publicity, advertising his show to no end, and using people’s disbelief and naïveté to win them in. As a result, Heth’s tour was a hit and Barnum earned a handsome profit. In 1835, Heth died and it was revealed that in fact she was no more than eighty years old. Nevertheless, Barnum had already prevailed.
Encouraged by his success with Heth, Barnum embarked on a series of other tours throughout the U.S. in the 1840s and 1850s. Among the new attractions in his shows was the friendly midget General Tom Thumb. Although his success following the death of Heth was not as significant, an acquisition in 1842 would turn Barnum’s fate around.
In 1842, Barnum purchased Scudder’s American Museum at Broadway and Ann Street in New York City, along with one of its main rivals, and together, created Barnum’s American Museum. With its vast collection of fossils, specimens, and what he called “freaks of nature,” Barnum’s museum quickly became one of the most popular American attractions. It was here where such popular phenomena as the original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, got their start.
After making it big in America, Barnum decided to go overseas, bringing his touring attraction to Queen Victoria in England, and on to the rest of Europe, where he was a hit as well. One of Barnum’s most successful ventures was when he commissioned Swedish soprano sensation Jenny Lind to sing in the U.S. for $1,000 a night. After 150 sold out nights, both Lind and Barnum had become a hit.
In 1855, Barnum decided to call it quits and retire from show business. However, still owing money to his creditors, he returned to his career just two years later. His discovery of the 7 foot 11 Anna Swan proved to be another boon for Barnum. But, just when things seemed to be back on track, Barnum’s American Museum burned to the ground. Barnum set up shop at another New York City location, but it too burned down just a few years later.
In 1871, Barnum met William Cameron Coup, a Wisconsin businessman with whom he would embark on his next venture: P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome. Dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth,” this traveling circus was to be Barnum’s greatest combination of “freaks” to date. Over the years, its name would go through many changes, but all shows would be equally successful.
On April 7, 1891, Barnum passed away. The books he had written, including “The Art of Money-Getting” (1880) and his autobiography would continue to be best sellers. In fact, by the end of the century, more copies of his autobiography would have been printed than any other book in North America except the New Testament. His circus would eventually be sold to the Ringling brothers in 1907 for $400,000.
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