Welcome to the Freak Show: Circus History & Sideshow Icons

Latest Sideshow Stories

November 8, 2018

Freakatorium: The Sideshow Collection of Johnny Fox Hits the Auction Block

Own some amazing pieces of sideshow history from the collection of sword swallower Johnny Fox.

October 16, 2017

The Cardiff Giant: Making One of History’s Most Famous Hoaxes

January 16, 2017

Ringling Bros. Circus Comes to an End

September 15, 2015

Jumbo the Elephant

February 9, 2015

Save Circus History: Adopt a Wagon at Circus World

Freak Show

Step inside and see the world’s most famous freak show performers, from the original Siamese Twins to the Living Skeleton!

Miracle Mike

Meet Mike the Headless Chicken, the miraculous farm animal who survived for almost two years without a head!

Largest Animal in the World

P.T. Barnum’s most famous circus animal was struck and killed by a train in 1885, but that was far from the end of Jumbo the Elephant‘s story.

Ohio Big Foot Girl

A rare condition caused sideshow performer Fanny Mills to what promoters billed as the Biggest Feet on Earth.

Sideshow Banner Art

Called the “Picasso of circus art,” the sideshow banners of Fred G. Johnson are considered the finest circus advertising art ever created.

Petrified Man

The world was shocked by the discovery of a petrified man, but the Cardiff Giant was actually an elaborate hoax two years in the making.

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Welcome to the Freak Show: Circus History & Sideshow Icons

Freak Show

Miracle Mike

Largest Animal in the World

Ohio Big Foot Girl

Sideshow Banner Art

Petrified Man

All Freak Show Posts

Freakatorium: The Sideshow Collection of Johnny Fox Hits the Auction Block

The Cardiff Giant: Making One of History’s Most Famous Hoaxes

Ringling Bros. Circus Comes to an End

Jumbo the Elephant

Save Circus History: Adopt a Wagon at Circus World

Most Famous Circus Freaks

World’s First Pregnant Sword Swallower

Contortionist Leilani Franco Scores 3 Guinness World Records

Girl to Gorilla Sideshow Act

The Knife Thrower’s Girl

General Robley’s Tattooed Heads

Snake Charmer