08 Sep 2014

Lost Capitol Hill: The Show Grounds at 15th and Florida

tnWhen looking for subjects to write about, I try to stay within the bounds of greater Capitol Hill, which are generally accepted to end at Florida Avenue on the north side. But occasionally, there is something close by that I really want to write about – so I’ll stretch the rules ever so slightly. So, today, follow me just across Florida Avenue for “the World’s largest, Grandest, Best Amusement Institution.”

The Barnum & Bailey circus has been a visitor to Washington since at least 1879 – back before P.T. Barnum merged his circus with that of James Anthony Bailey. Originally, the circus used grounds in the Northwest quadrant of the city, including at 9th and S Streets NW. As the city grew, the grounds available for their use began moving steadily east, with a location on North Capitol between L and M being a prime spot for a number of years. Eventually, this, too, was no longer feasible and thus the march east continued. Thus, in 1901, a new space was found at the corner of 13th and C NE.

This, however, did not last long, and thus the next move was a short distance to the NE, to the corner of 15th and Florida Avenue. The large open field, owned by the Washington Brick Machine Company, was just the ticket. Served by the H Street streetcar line, and already known by the fans of the Washington Senators, as their ballpark was on the same land, it was just the ticket.
Thus, on May 11, 1903, the Washington Post breathlessly announced the arrival of the Barnum and Bailey circus, which had not graced the city in five years: “As noiselessly as camels from the hot sands of Arabia, thousands of beasts from the desert and jungle, acrobats, and freaks of all descriptions, comprising Barnum & Bailey’s big circus, took possession of Washington yesterday morning and filled the small boy [and, presumably, the writer of the article -ed] with unalloyed delight.”

The circus had arrived by train, and stopped at the South Capitol street sidings. It was thus quite a procession that made its way through the streets of Washington. It was observed by “half the boys of Washington” – fortunately for them, the arrival occurred on a Sunday.

Ad from Washington Evening Star from May 9, 1903. (LOC)

Ad from Washington Evening Star from May 9, 1903. (LOC)

The arrival had gone smoothly, other than that “Hugo, the French giant” had gotten out of the train somewhere between Baltimore and D.C. – apparently to pick flowers – and had gotten lost. A search party, which included the circus’s dwarfs and the “What-is-it” had to be sent out to retrieve him.

On the 11th itself, there was to be a parade all the way across the city, including marching right past the White House, to drum up business. Not that there needed to be much drumming up. Between the Post‘s excited writing and the fact that first lady Edith Roosevelt was to bring several of her children to that day’s performance, there was little likelihood of a poor turnout.

The show grounds proved their mettle during that visit, and continued to be used for years thereafter, with Main’s three ring circus following Barnum & Bailey that year, and Buffalo Bill bringing his show in 1908, which included, along with the ‘historical sketches’ a game of football – on horseback.

As late as 1922, it was still in use, with Johnny J. Jones Exposition Shows camping out for 11 days. Today, it’s all houses – and a BP station.

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