Barre Circus Poster on Display at Vermont History Center

Dateline: September 12, 2011

Barre, Vt. – The public is invited to see a very rare circus poster salvaged acquired by the Vermont Historical Society when building next to Studio Place Arts was being demolished. The poster was for the Forepaugh (4Paw) Circus which traveled throughout Vermont and the rest of the United States and abroad from 1879 until the early 1900s. Forepaugh's rivaled Barnum's circus and traveled with a huge assortment of animals and performers. This circus usually came to Vermont every other year.  The image on the poster is "Custer's Last Rally" or "Custer's Last Fight" and was part of the Forepaugh's Wild West Show. Forepaugh began to imitate the very popular Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show but is credited with being the first circus to show the Custer re-enactment in 1887.

"The only time this circus visited Barre was on July 25, 1890, so we believe that is the date of the poster," explained Jackie Calder, Vermont Historical Society's Museum Curator. "This is a remarkable survivor that reminds us of how popular the circus was in Vermont at one time."

The poster is glued over several other layers of posters onto the boards. It must have been covered with clapboards shortly after it was hung since its colors are still very vibrant. It does have losses and grime but is in relatively good condition. The window-like opening in the lower left corner was where the demolition people cut a hole in the side of the building before the poster was discovered. Another poster on the other side of the building couldn't be saved except for a few pieces.

The poster will be on exhibit at the Vermont History Center at 60 Washington Street in Barre Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please contact Jackie Calder at (802) 479-8514 with any questions.