Print: "Barnum's American Museum"
Barnum's American Museum (associated with)
1850 – 1855 (Date manufactured/created)
paper, ink
Large black and white print depicting Barnum's American Museum in New York City in the early 1850s. The view is from Broadway, mainly showing the front of the museum with its highly decorated facade. During the time the building stood, this facade featured oval plaques painted with wild animals, and a balcony on which musicians were often set up to attract crowds. Outlining the roofline of the building in this image are about two dozen flags from various nations, with a much larger American flag in the center, flying high above the rest. The streetscene is busy with horse-drawn carriages, coaches, wagons, and pedestrians. The image is highly detailed and contains a considerable amount of text, from business names and signage to hand-carried advertising posters. The neighboring businesses shown here, include Edward Fox, and Genin, a hat seller whose name rose to fame when he became the highest bidder on a Jenny Lind concert ticket. In fact, the exterior of his store in this image promotes Jenny Lind riding hats. To the far right is a "Segar [Cigar] Store." There is also an elaborate coach that is stopped in front of the entrance to the museum, with a small crowd looking toward it. The coach and horses appear smaller than others, suggesting that this is a depiction of the miniature coach of Charles S. Stratton, known as General Tom Thumb. The artist of this drawing is unknown since the bottom left corner of the print, where the artist's name was stated, has been torn away. The printer, noted at the far right, is G.W. Lewis III of Nassau St., New York. The original paper color would have been much lighter, closer to white; this print has yellowed with age.
Barnum's American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street in Lower Manhattan. Barnum acquired the property in December of 1841 and operated the museum until July 1865 when it was destroyed by a fire. He opened a second museum at 539-541 Broadway but that too was destroyed by a fire less than three years later, in 1868. The displays in the museum ranged from dioramas of places such as Niagara falls and the American plains, to a wide variety of stuffed and living animals, including whales and trained seals; wax figure tableaux; performers; theatrical performances, inventions; scientific specimens; and historical and curious artifacts. Barnum also included a few "humbugs," or hoaxes, and invited the public to see and decide for themselves whether the display in question was genuine or not. Barnum changed his exhibits often, and brought in newsmakers, plays, and a variety of entertainments, all presented as "wholesome" to assure family audiences, and women, that the museum was a respectable place to visit. People from all over the country flocked to Barnum's, and even European royalty visited the museum.
Barnum's American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street in Lower Manhattan. Barnum acquired the property in December of 1841 and operated the museum until July 1865 when it was destroyed by a fire. He opened a second museum at 539-541 Broadway but that too was destroyed by a fire less than three years later, in 1868. The displays in the museum ranged from dioramas of places such as Niagara falls and the American plains, to a wide variety of stuffed and living animals, including whales and trained seals; wax figure tableaux; performers; theatrical performances, inventions; scientific specimens; and historical and curious artifacts. Barnum also included a few "humbugs," or hoaxes, and invited the public to see and decide for themselves whether the display in question was genuine or not. Barnum changed his exhibits often, and brought in newsmakers, plays, and a variety of entertainments, all presented as "wholesome" to assure family audiences, and women, that the museum was a respectable place to visit. People from all over the country flocked to Barnum's, and even European royalty visited the museum.
T 2012.001.001