Description
1903 Barnum & Bailey Circus Two Hemispheres Bandwagon
The finest and biggest circus bandwagon ever built. The last of the great wagons in private hands.
The massive and exquisitely carved “Two Hemispheres” bandwagon was built in 1903 for Barnum & Bailey. Two Hemispheres would take over the circus parade lead and the 40-horses from the previously most famous circus wagon known as the “Five Graces”.
The Forepaugh “Five Graces” wagon.
The latter was thought to be built by Sebastian in 1878 for Adam Forepaugh, later purchased by Barnum in 1890. The Forepaugh “Five Graces” wagon originally had a globe, lions and life-size band organ figures on top.
The early 1800s “Globe Wagon”.
It is said that the designers of the world-famous Five Graces wagon tried to copy an earlier telescoping tableau wagon imported from England by Howes Great London Show. That wagon was commonly called the “Globe Wagon”. Interestingly, its grandson-wagon, so to speak, and the greatest circus bandwagon of all would be the great “Two Hemispheres” with globe and lions carved right into its sides and all around.
