At this site on March 20, 1871, the first P.T. Barnum Circus was loaded on rail cars and transported to Brooklyn, NY, where it gave its initial performance on April 10, 1871. The circus was conceived and organized in Delavan by William C. Coup and Dan Costello. After using various titles for several years, it eventually became known as “The Greatest Show on Earth.” In 1888, James A. Bailey became Barnum’s sole partner, and the circus title changed to Barnum and Bailey. After Barnum died in 1891 and Bailey died in 1906, the circus was sold to the Ringling brothers of Baraboo in 1907. It continued as a separate circus until it was combined with Ringling Brothers in 1919. On September 6, 1970, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus returned to this site for the 100th year of its founding.