RINGLING MUSEUM

Ringling museum honors circus, art

 

Ringling museum of art

The Ca’ d’Zan mansion, completed in 1925, was restored about a decade ago.
from: columbusdispatch.com
By Marla Matzer Rose
May 12, 2013
Walking around the grounds of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fla., with its palm trees and views of Sarasota Bay, a visitor can easily see what appealed to two Midwesterners when they arrived almost a century ago.
But Iowa native John and his wife, Mable, from Fayette County, Ohio, weren’t just your typical Gulf Coast-loving Midwesterners: The fortune they built as owners of the Ringling Bros. circus led to the eclectic collection of fine art and memorabilia that are at the heart of this hidden gem.
The Ringling is a museum, gardens and opulent 1920s estate rolled into one — a veritable three-ring circus of an attraction where one could easily spend an entire day. There’s no need to be a big fan or to even remember the heyday of the traditional circus to enjoy a visit to the sprawling 13-acre property.
But for those who do remember experiencing the magic of the circus as children, the museum captures an age when the circus coming to town was the highlight of the year.
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http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/travel/2013/05/12/1-ringling-museum-honors-circus-art.html