“Phineas Taylor Barnum, properly known as P.T. Barnum, was a showman, and probably the most famous American of the 19th century.” Discover the history of THE CIRCUS, premiering on PBS October 8 & 9 → pbs.org/circus | American Experience | PBS

"The noblest art is that of making others happy” P. T. Barnum, one of the most well known Americans of the 19th century and the founder of the Barnum & Bailey circus, was born on July 5, 1810 in Bethel, Connecticut. The consummate showman was famous before he dove into the circus world for wonders on display at his American Museum in New York, which opened in 1841. | American Experience | PBS