I used to occasionally deliver items or correspondence into that building. I put this in HL because he was once the mayor of the city.
P.T. Barnum was a real Conn/New York piece of work.
en.wikipedia.org
I added 3 personal pics at the bottom of the thread during a bike ride a few yrs ago..
The Barnum Museum, which opened in 1893, contains thousands of artifacts related to P.T. Barnum, Bridgeport and American history.
Bridgeport's Barnum Museum is set to receive a national honor for its role in preserving American history.
The museum — the last surviving establishment dedicated to American showman P.T. Barnum — will be designated as the 65th National Historic Landmark in Connecticut. The nomination was approved by the National Park Service Advisory Board on Aug. 16 and the designation is awaiting a signature from the U.S. Secretary of Interior, said Jenny Scofield, the deputy state historic preservation officer for Connecticut.
The National Historic Landmark status is an honor that the U.S. government has awarded more than 2,600 structures for their contributions to American history, according to the National Park Service.
“The significance really demonstrates that the Barnum building is one of the most important American places in the entire United States,” Kathy Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum, said.
Built in 1893, the Barnum Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and highlights the life and career of Barnum & Bailey circus founder, former Bridgeport mayor and longtime resident, P.T. Barnum. The museum, located on 820 Main Street, houses more than 60,000 artifacts related to Barnum, the city of Bridgeport and 19th century America.
Maher said the building's historic architecture and P.T. Barnum's legacy make the museum deserving of the recognition. Born in Bethel in 1810, Barnum wore many hats as a Connecticut politician, philanthropist, newspaper owner and is most well-known for his live acts displayed at Barnum's American Museum and Barnum & Bailey Circus, both of which he founded. In 2012, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, an organization representing more 6,000 amusement-industry members worldwide, inducted Barnum into their Hall of Fame for his influence on the modern entertainment industry, a recognition also given to Walt Disney.
Despite his influence, there has been controversy surrounding Barnum's career, including his treatment of animals and disabled people. Scholars have also analyzed how his shows fueled racist stereotypes for white audiences, according to its National Historic Landmark nomination. In 2015, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey began phasing out its use of elephants due to public concern over its treatment of animals. Declining ticket sales than forced the circus shut down in 2017 after a nearly 150-year run. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey announced last year that it plans to bring back the show in September 2023 without any animals.
The museum is hosting a public event on Thursday at the M&T Bank/Barnum Museum Plaza Thursday to celebrate the recognition, Maher said. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature art demonstrations, circus art performances and live music. Officials from the state, including Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, and organizations like the Beardsley Zoo and Discovery Museum will also be in attendance, Maher said.
The building has been closed to visitors since it sustained damaged in a 2010 tornado and has undergone a major project to renovate its historic exterior. As of May 2023, the museum has raised $15 million to renovate the exterior and it still needs $30 million.
Maher said she's been pursuing National Historic Landmark status for 19 years, but she has been delayed by the 2010 tornado and other factors over the years. She estimates that construction on the exterior of the building will take another year, she said.
During its renovation, the museum has posted over 100 videos on its YouTube channel covering stories, facts and artifacts related to P.T. Barnum. One of the video documents new discoveries about a 4,000-year-old mummy kept in the museum.
"It's a massive historic restoration initiative. One of the reasons we're a National Historic Landmark is because it's a nod to the fact that we'd saved this building," Maher said.
Written By Abby Weiss
Abby Weiss is a Connecticut native and a features reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media. She graduated with a B.S. in journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2022. She has written for InsideClimate News, The New York Post and Callaway Climate Insights.
www.ctpost.com
P.T. Barnum was a real Conn/New York piece of work.
P. T. Barnum - Wikipedia
I added 3 personal pics at the bottom of the thread during a bike ride a few yrs ago..
Bridgeport's Barnum Museum to earn National Historic Landmark status
The Barnum Museum, which opened in 1893, contains thousands of artifacts related to P.T. Barnum, Bridgeport and American history.
Bridgeport's Barnum Museum is set to receive a national honor for its role in preserving American history.
The museum — the last surviving establishment dedicated to American showman P.T. Barnum — will be designated as the 65th National Historic Landmark in Connecticut. The nomination was approved by the National Park Service Advisory Board on Aug. 16 and the designation is awaiting a signature from the U.S. Secretary of Interior, said Jenny Scofield, the deputy state historic preservation officer for Connecticut.
The National Historic Landmark status is an honor that the U.S. government has awarded more than 2,600 structures for their contributions to American history, according to the National Park Service.
“The significance really demonstrates that the Barnum building is one of the most important American places in the entire United States,” Kathy Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum, said.
Built in 1893, the Barnum Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and highlights the life and career of Barnum & Bailey circus founder, former Bridgeport mayor and longtime resident, P.T. Barnum. The museum, located on 820 Main Street, houses more than 60,000 artifacts related to Barnum, the city of Bridgeport and 19th century America.
Maher said the building's historic architecture and P.T. Barnum's legacy make the museum deserving of the recognition. Born in Bethel in 1810, Barnum wore many hats as a Connecticut politician, philanthropist, newspaper owner and is most well-known for his live acts displayed at Barnum's American Museum and Barnum & Bailey Circus, both of which he founded. In 2012, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, an organization representing more 6,000 amusement-industry members worldwide, inducted Barnum into their Hall of Fame for his influence on the modern entertainment industry, a recognition also given to Walt Disney.
Despite his influence, there has been controversy surrounding Barnum's career, including his treatment of animals and disabled people. Scholars have also analyzed how his shows fueled racist stereotypes for white audiences, according to its National Historic Landmark nomination. In 2015, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey began phasing out its use of elephants due to public concern over its treatment of animals. Declining ticket sales than forced the circus shut down in 2017 after a nearly 150-year run. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey announced last year that it plans to bring back the show in September 2023 without any animals.
The museum is hosting a public event on Thursday at the M&T Bank/Barnum Museum Plaza Thursday to celebrate the recognition, Maher said. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature art demonstrations, circus art performances and live music. Officials from the state, including Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, and organizations like the Beardsley Zoo and Discovery Museum will also be in attendance, Maher said.
The building has been closed to visitors since it sustained damaged in a 2010 tornado and has undergone a major project to renovate its historic exterior. As of May 2023, the museum has raised $15 million to renovate the exterior and it still needs $30 million.
Maher said she's been pursuing National Historic Landmark status for 19 years, but she has been delayed by the 2010 tornado and other factors over the years. She estimates that construction on the exterior of the building will take another year, she said.
During its renovation, the museum has posted over 100 videos on its YouTube channel covering stories, facts and artifacts related to P.T. Barnum. One of the video documents new discoveries about a 4,000-year-old mummy kept in the museum.
"It's a massive historic restoration initiative. One of the reasons we're a National Historic Landmark is because it's a nod to the fact that we'd saved this building," Maher said.
Written By Abby Weiss
Abby Weiss is a Connecticut native and a features reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media. She graduated with a B.S. in journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2022. She has written for InsideClimate News, The New York Post and Callaway Climate Insights.
Bridgeport's Barnum Museum to become National Historic Landmark
A museum dedicated to American showman P.T. Barnum is set to become the 65th National...