Barnum's Aquarial Gardens
Barnum's Aquarial Gardens (June 1862 – February 1863) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, was a public aquarium, zoo, and performance space located on Washington Street in the Financial District. P.T. Barnum bought the Boston Aquarial and Zoological Gardens in 1862, remodelled the space, changed the name of the business, and re-opened the collections to the public in June. In contrast to its earlier incarnation, the place became more of a show-hall than a serious scientific establishment. "Madame Lanista," who wrestled with snakes, was a typical attraction of this period; also "a dog show, followed soon after by a baby show. Dramatic performances were given from Dec. 16, 1862, until Feb. 14, 1863."[1] Thereafter "the contents of the Gardens were moved to the American Museum in New York."[2][3]
Performances/Exhibits
- June 1862 - Dog show
- July 1862- "Baby show" ("fine and fancy specimens of infantile humanity")[4]
- Sept. 1862 - "Gen. Tom Thumb and Commodore Nutt"[5] ("two rival pigmies")[6]
- "Miss Dora Dawron, the double voiced singer ... in unique costume representing half man and half woman"[7]
- "Miss Leone, attired as Venus, in her nautilus shell boat ... [drives] the whale around the great central tank"[7]
- Albino Family[2]
References
- ↑ Winsor. The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880, Volume 4. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1886
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "New England Aquarium". Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ↑ After 1863 the space in Boston was re-named "Andrews's Hall, and occupied for balls, and occasional exhibitions and fairs. Oct. 2, 1865, opened as Theatre Comique by Jason Wentworth ... for performances of variety, pantomime, and light spectacular pieces. ... July 1, 1869, Wentworth sold to John Stetson, who rechristened it the New Adelphi. ... So continued until Feb. 4, 1871 ... when it was burned. Rebuilt for business uses." Cf. Winsor. The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880, Volume 4. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1886
- ↑ Farmers' Cabinet (Amherst, New Hampshire); Date: 06-26-1862
- ↑ Farmers Cabinet (New Hampshire), Sept. 11, 1862
- ↑ New Hampshire Patriot, Sept. 10, 1862
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Daily Picayune (New Orleans); Date: 08-14-1862
