Come one, come all! Angela Fitzgerald visits Circus World in Baraboo to learn about Wisconsin’s historical contributions to the circus. Nestled along the Baraboo River, this site was the Ringling Bros. original winter quarters home. Today, Circus World hosts circus performances and exhibits presented by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Next, meet Michael T. Miller, who’s a big fan of the “Indiana Jones” films. His home in Sheboygan houses a vast collection of Indy memorabilia — from movie props to signed photos of Harrison Ford — spanning decades of fandom. The quest to collect it all, sparked by early childhood memories, has taken Miller and his wife Martha across Wisconsin and beyond.
Then we head to Dark Horse Loft near New Richmond, home to a unique mother and son pigeon racing team. Liz Beukema and her son, Garrett, own over 200 pigeons which they train to race courses over 400 miles long. Scientists aren’t sure how the birds navigate. Garrett Beukema says releasing the birds takes more than a little bit of faith.
Duabci Vang teaches Hmong dance to Fox Valley youth, blending traditional styles with modern influences. Emphasizing the cultural stories behind the movements and committing to preserving the Hmong language, Duabci creates a community where students grow from reluctant beginners to passionate performers, all while celebrating their roots.
And we end up back where we started: at the circus. As a teenager, Joan Stevens left her hometown of Baraboo to work for the carnival and follow her dreams. When she came back, she continued in the circus business as a sign painter. In her decades-long career, she’s painted wagons for everything from small-town circuses to Hollywood movies. Today she is helping Circus World Museum in Baraboo repaint, restore and revitalize their circus wagon collection.
