Vintage, Colorized Photos of the Greatest Show on Earth

Come May, 2017, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will be folding up their tents for good, closing after 146 years on the road. Now you can enjoy the colorful history of the Greatest Show on Earth thanks to the Illinois State University's Milner Library.

The school has spent ample time and money to preserve the history of the circus through digitizing thousands of posters, photographs, circus route books and Kodachrome slides.
While the glory days of the circus may have ended, it's legacy will live on for years to come.
You can see the pictures for yourself on the Milner Library website, where you can casually browse or search for specific images based on location, performer, circus and more.