Look, I know this is a Disney blog. But a girl’s got to go somewhere besides WDW from time to time, right? So if you will, indulge me a couple of non-Disney posts, I promise I’ll make it worth your while. Are you with me? Good.
We left off on March 7th, a beautiful, sunny day in Central Florida. After a delicious lunch at Kona Cafe and a Polynesian poolside Dole Whip, we walked back to the TTC parking lot and to our rental car. Next stop? Sarasota. We were meeting up with my grandparents and taking a tour of the Ringling Museum of Art. My grandparents had been urging us both to visit this museum for a long time, and it seemed like a no-brainer to stop since we’d be driving right by Sarasota on the way to my grandparents’ place near Ft. Myers. My grandparents even decided to meet us there and tour with us.
Now, CP and I love museums – I’m really serious about the “nerd” thing. But I wasn’t prepared for the awesomeness that was in store at the Ringling. After meeting my grandparents at Starbucks, we proceeded to the museum and inside to buy our tickets. The ticket salesperson asked if we knew where we were going or where we’d want to start, and we said no. Her recommendation? Start at the circus museum.
The what now?
Obviously I know that the Ringling family has a long and storied role in the history of the circus. But I didn’t realize that the Ringling Museum a) had this history on display, and b) would display it in one of the most unique ways I’ve ever seen museum content curated. Of greatest interest to CP and me was the incredibly detailed (and gigantic!) circus model, described by the Ringling website thusly:
The cornerstone of the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center is the world’s largest miniature circus, The Howard Bros. Circus Model. The model is a replica of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 – 1938. It was created over a period of more than 50-years by master model builder and philanthropist Howard Tibbals.
Words can’t really do this model justice, and pictures barely do. In any case, feast your eyes:
The Ringling’s Tibbals Learning Center, where you’ll find the circus model.
Our first glimpse of the model. CP on your right, to give you a sense of scale.
The circus comes to town via the rails.
The model incorporates historic footage seamlessly into the model – a really unique curation tool.
More historic footage, here of cooks making meals for the circus staff.
Meal time.
Elephants on parade.
The largest area of the model. Those are second-story windows in the back of the photo – the model is huge.
Incredible detail.
Reminds me of the animal cracker boxes of yore….
Photographing the photographer.
My grandparents, just as engrossed with the model as we were.
Hard to tell from the photo, but the model had moving parts – acrobats, animals, etc.
The model is the anchor of the circus collection, but there are also wonderful displays of memorabilia, posters, and lots of hands-on activities for the kids. A few other highlights:
Jumping on the bandwagon. Get it?
An extensive hands-on exhibit delighted the kids *and* adults present.
Zoetrope.
With limited hours before the museum closed, we skipped the rest of the circus exhibits in favor of heading over to the main art museum. (After all, how can you top that incredible model?!) The Ringling buildings are separated at a bit of a distance; if you don’t want to walk, there is a shuttle (read: guy in a golf cart) that will take you to and from the main building and the outbuildings. The weather was beautiful, however, so we decided to walk. The Ringling grounds themselves are an attraction:
Old Florida.
The Dwarf Garden – I swear, that’s really what it’s called!
My grandparents, looking cute. (Awwww.)
By the time we reached the art museum the sun was setting, and I couldn’t abandon CP and the grandparents fast enough. Good photos were calling!
A replica of David at sunset.
Pretty in pink.
The art museum boasts an ornate and beautiful patio.
Old and new.
Although the Ringling’s collections aren’t really focused on my favorite periods of art, the collections are nevertheless impressive. The traveling exhibitions were impressive, too, and could meet many tastes – while we were there, we saw an exhibit of Veronese, and an incredible travelling Getty collection of Herb Ritts photographs. Even if you’re not a huge art fan, the museum itself is quite beautiful and worth a stroll.
By 7:30 we were all tired and pretty hungry, so we finished up our visit and headed out to grab a bite to eat. A couple final shots from the Ringling:
Au revoir.
A picture-perfect sunset over the Gulf.
It’s funny to think we started the day at the Magic Kingdom and ended it with a walk through a preeminent collection of European masterworks. Somehow, though, it was perfect.
MINE.
What’s that? Oh, just a gratuitous Disney picture. Which is to say – I promise we’ll get back to Disney soon.
Up next: CP does something she has never done before.
Nerds in Wonderland 