Think Ringling Brothers Circus--then think again

An amazing miniature of Ringling Brothers Circuit.  Mr. Tabells spent 50 years building this miniature complete with railroad cars, thousands of circus goers, animals, acts, tents, every part of the circus.

No, this isn't the Doges Palace in Venice, it is the Ringling (John and Mabel) winter home in Sarasota, Florida

Stu looked like he was born to the manor as he enjoyed the warm sunshine, sitting on the terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay

 Mention Ringling Brothers and I have an instant image of the Freak Side show, the Fat Lady, Man with three legs, the tall man and the midget.   What an exciting day it was to visit the circus when it was in Madison Square Garden in the early 50's.
Today Stu and I visited the home of John Ringling and the Circus Museum that bears his name.  I will never be able to think about Ringling Brothers in the same way again.  John Ringling, one of 8 children, 7 sons and a daughter, born in a humble setting in Idaho.  By the early 20th century he was one of the 15 richest men in America.  You don't hear about him alongside of John D. Rockefeller, or Sinclair, or Hertz, or Vanderbilt, indeed, he probably didn't move in their circles although he was a real estate tycoon, a financier, owned oil and gas leases, dabled in railroads, and lived large.  It probably took more than money to get beyond your label as a Circus man who bought all of his extensive art collection and impressive home furnishings at auction--including the original crystal chandelier which hung in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York (the one that was torn down to make way for the Empire State Building), and which now hangs in the central room of their Venetian styled Ca'd'Zan (House of John in Venetian language).
The 62 acre estate, willed to the state of Florida and now under the control of the University of Southern Florida, consists of an extensive Baroque Art Museum whose collection includes Ruben tapestries, Baroque masters, an exquisite building  over 75,000 square feet.  In addition to the art museum, there's a learning and research center, a circus museum, the miniature collection (covering a space the size of two football fields--all in miniature), a museum shop, restaurant, cafe, and the amazing house overlooking Sarasota Bay and the keys which Ringling reclaimed from the Gulf.
Mabel and John didn't have any children (she was 30 when they married, he was 39).  They determined they would leave the legacy of their art collection to the state when they passed, because they loved Sarasota so totally.  There's was truly a love affair, a shared set of values.  The home and furnishings, although purchased second and third hand at auction, is opulent.  At the same period they were building this winter home, their equally wealthy peers (Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Crane, etc) were established on Jekyl Island on the east coast of Northern Florida.  Was Ringling not included on purpose or were his real estate and entrepreneurial interests in another location?  His initial money did come from the Circus--lots of $.25 admission tickets.
It is easy to understand the fierce divide between the wealthy and the poor.  At the beginning of the twentieth century, although the gap was as great as now, one didn't see the wealthy as much as we do now.  The gap was less visible due to lack of television, exploitive magazines.  Do so few people need to control so much wealth?  How much is enough?  Is it actually a benefit to humanity because without the very wealthy we would not have preserved much of the art from centuries ago?   I don't have any answers, just pondering.
Again, Stu and I have had an amazing day.  We are so blessed to have the experience of this trip.  Another day in St. Pete's beach, might even spend some beach time, and then off to New Orleans.
We give thanks for our trip and for our friends and family.    Adrienne & Stu