America's 1st Circus Started In Philadelphia: Phun Philly Phacts
Community Corner
America's 1st Circus Started In Philadelphia: Phun Philly Phacts President George Washington attended a circus performance on Market Street in 1793.PHILADELPHIA, PA —We've all been to the circus in our lifetimes.
They've sent in the clowns and the jugglers. We've experienced the excitement of watching the lion tamers and the elephants running in a circle. We've watched the high-wire acts under the Big Tent.
We've all seen the circus. As many of us might say, we've also just watched a political circus over the past year with the 2024 presidential election campaign.
President George Washington also saw a political circus around him. But he also watched the first circus performed in America —and that was in Philadelphia.
On Market Street, there is a historical marker:
The marker states that "America's first circus building was opened here at 12th and Market Streets on April 3, 1793. On that day, the English equestrian John Bill Ricketts gave America's first circus performance. President Washington attended this show later in the season."
The idea of the formal circus was relatively new then, though itinerant jugglers, acrobats, and clowns had wandered Europe, entertaining commoners and kings alike, for centuries, according to explorepahistory.com.
No one had put their various acts together on one bill until 1770, when Philip Astley, a British cavalry officer and war hero, began performing feats on horseback in London. He later added tumblers, wire walkers, performing dogs, and a clown to fill the time between his demonstrations.
Thus, the circus was created.
In 1797, Ricketts marked Washington's retirement with a special performance, and later that year, he performed for his friend's presidential successor, John Adams.
Three days after Washington's death in 1799, Ricketts' circus died, too, the website states.
He set sail for England. But the ship and the founder of America's circus were lost at sea.
