The Wandering Disciple

Come one, come all to the greatest little show on Earth.  Step inside the Tibbal's Learning Center to see this amazing model circus created by Howard Tibbals to demonstrate a 1920's era circus as it arrived in town via the railway.  Named the Howard Bros Circus, the model is a 3/4 inch scale model recreates the effect of the travelling circus on a small town.  This model contains over 42,000 pieces including 8 large circus tents, 152 circus wagons and 1,500 workers and performers.  Just like the real travelling circus, this replica circus can be packed up into the 55 train cars included in the model.  Located on the grounds of the Ringling Museum, the Tibbals Learning Center and the adjacent Circus Museum highlight the legacy of the Ringling Brothers Circus.  (Photo: September 26, 2015)

For years, the Ringling's Ca' d' Zan was the premier entertainment spot.  The elegant mansion on Sarasota Bay was the winter home of John and Mable Ringling and the circus magnate would host some of the most extravagant parties of the time.  Today guests can walk the same footsteps of the rich and famous and get a glimpse into the lives of the Ringlings.  (Photo: June 14, 2009)

Bright colorful flowers can be found throughout Mabel's Secret Garden at the John & Mabel Ringling Mansion.  The sprawling estate is home to many colorful gardens planted by Mabel to provide more elegance to their winter home.  (Photo: June 14, 2009)

Roses boom all year round in the colorful rose garden at the Ringling Museum. Completed in 1913, Mabel Ringling planted and took care of the roses of the garden. It is one of several gardens on the estate and is probably the most popular on the property. While none of the roses in existence here today were planted by Mabel, they are the same variety in which she had planted years ago. (Photo: September 26, 2015)

The colorful blooms of Mabel's Secret Garden is a popular sight at the Ringling Museum on the Sarasota bayfront.  The museum was once the home of John and Mabel Ringling.  Today guests can tour his estate, stroll through the gardens and tour his art collection and circus memorabilia.  (Photo: June 14, 2009)

The outside corridor of the Ringling Museum provides a stunning backdrop and a grand entrance for the Ringling Museum of Art.  The museum features a collection of over 10,00 peices and is part of the Ringling Museum complex which features the art museum, historic Asolo Theater, Tibbals Learning Center, the circus museum, Ca' D' Zan and much more.  (Photo: June 14, 2009)

The statues atop the Belvedere Tower stand guard over the Ca' d'Zan. The Ca' d'Zan was the magnificent winter estate of circus magnate John Ringling. Built in the early 1920's, the the 56 room palace features an 82 foot tower in which Ringling used to wow his guests. (Photo: August 2, 2013)

John Ringling's train car "The Wisconsin" on display at the Circus Museum at the Ringling Museum. Built in 1905, The Wisconsin delivered John and Mable Ringling throughout the country. Today visitor's to the museum can glimpse into Ringling's life on the rails. (Photo: September 19, 2013)

These marble stair lead to one of the most stunning views in Sarasota. The stairs take you to the tower of the Ca d’ Zan for a breathtaking view of Sarasota Bay. The Ca d’ Za is the home of circus entrepreneur John Ringling. (Photo: June 14 2009)

One of the thousands of flowers in bloom at the estate of circus icon John Ringling. The John and Mable Ringling Museum in Sarasota encompasses over 60 acres and has more the 40,000 plants. Stroll the Rose Garden, Mable’s Secret Garden, the Dwarf Garden and the Millennium Tree Trail. In addition to the grounds, you can also tour the Ringling Art Museum, the circus museums, the Ca’ d’ Zan or the Asolo Theater. (Photo: June 14, 2009)

The Ca d'Zan sits along the Sarasota Bayfront as a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous from the 1920's. The winter residence of John and Mabel Ringling, the Ca d'Zan was finished in 1926. It was inspired by the Doge Palace in Italy and the tower was modeled after the first Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Today, the home is available for tours along with Ringling's famous art collection and a museum dedicated to his circus. (Photo: June 14, 2009)

Sarasota, Florida: John Ringling was the most well known and successful of the Ringling Brothers Circus family. Through-out his journeys across the world with the circus, he developed a rather large art collection and decided he wanted a place to display his works of art for all to enjoy. This became the backbone of the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. In 1921, John and Mable Ringling began spending their winters in Sarasota and decided to build home there. They purchased twenty acres of waterfront land on the banks of Sarasota Bay and the Ringling legacy in Sarasota was born. They first began construction of the Ringling residence in 1924. The Ca d’Zan, or house of John, was built as a Mediterranean revival structure featuring elements from the Doge’s Palace in Italy to Madison Square Garden in New York City. Designed by New York architect Dwight James Baum and built by Sarasota developer Owen Burns, the Ca d’Zan was completed in 1926 at the price of $1.5 million dollars. T...