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Step Right Up! Discover Columbus’ Spectacular Circus History

Did you know our city used to be a bona fide circus town? Yep, right here in Columbus, the Sells Brothers Circus was once the talk of the town, bringing excitement, wonder, and a whole lot of elephants to our streets. Let’s dive into the fascinating history of the Sells Brothers Circus and how Columbus became the heart of this incredible spectacle.

The Sells Family Origins

Our story begins with Ludwig Sells, a German immigrant who settled his family in Ohio in 1801. Ludwig’s grandsons, Ephraim, Allen, Lewis, and Peter, would later become the masterminds behind the Sells Brothers Circus. After serving in the American Civil War, the brothers found themselves in the auction business, where they often followed circus troupes to take advantage of the large crowds.

The Birth of the Sells Brothers Circus

sells brothers circus poster
Image of a poster of the four Sells brothers: Ephriam, Lewis, William Allen, and Peter, who owned and managed the Sells Brothers Circus.

In 1871, the Sells brothers, inspired by “Cannonball George Richards,” a performer who literally shot himself out of a cannon, decided to start their own circus. They pooled their resources, bought some circus equipment and animals, and launched their first show right here in downtown Columbus. It was a modest beginning with a small menagerie, a few sideshow acts, and Cannonball George himself.

Growing the Show

sells brothers circus parade of elephants
The Sells Circus parade heading south on North High Street between Broad and Gay Streets in 1897.

The initial success of their circus led the brothers to reinvest their earnings and expand the show. By 1873, they had acquired their first elephant, marking the beginning of a lifelong passion for these majestic animals. The show grew rapidly, and by 1878, the Sells Brothers Circus was traveling across the United States by railway, a much faster and more efficient method than the traditional wagon trains.

Sellsville: The Circus Headquarters

sells brothers circus wagon train
In its first year of operation, the Sells Brother Circus traveled using horse drawn wagons.

The circus had its winter quarters in Sellsville, an unincorporated area west of the Olentangy River. Sellsville was a bustling community, complete with living quarters for workers, animal housing, and even a dining hall. The residents of Sellsville were treated to quite the spectacle, with escaped animals occasionally roaming the streets and an array of colorful characters calling the area home.

The Wild West Show and International Adventures

sells brothers circus wagon
Ornately decorated circus wagon at a stop on the Sells Brothers Circus tour in the 1890s.

The Sells Brothers didn’t just stick to traditional circus acts; they embraced the Wild West craze of the 1880s, adding cowboys, Indians, and thrilling stunts to their repertoire. In 1891, the circus even ventured to Australia, though the tour was marred by an outbreak of glanders, a contagious disease that decimated their animal menagerie.

The Circus at Its Peak

sells brothers circus band
The 1898 Side Show Band of the Adam Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Combined Circuses included Solomon White, leader and cornet, James White, clarinet, George “Smut” Smith, cornet, Thomas May, cornet, Bill Johnson, alto horn, James Hall, baritone horn, Bill Jones, trombone, Bill May, tuba, Arthur Clark, snare drum and Bill Bell, bass drum.

By the late 1880s, the Sells Brothers Circus was one of the largest in the country. Their shows were elaborate, featuring everything from Roman hippodromes to Wild West exhibitions. The circus traveled extensively, even logging over 40,000 miles in one year alone. At its height, the circus required 47 special railroad cars to transport its equipment and animals, including 13 elephants and a host of exotic creatures.

The Final Curtain

circus parade
A circus parade through downtown Columbus, thought to be the Ringling Brothers Circus parade that occurred on May 8, 1914.

The family bonds that had kept the circus running began to fray with the deaths of Ephraim in 1898, and later Peter and Allen in 1904. With no family members interested in continuing the business, Lewis Sells sold the circus to James A. Bailey, who then sold it to the Ringling Brothers. The Sells Brothers Circus went on its final tours under its original name in the early 1900s before becoming part of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Columbus’s Circus Legacy

circus house sells mansion columbus
Known now as the Circus House, this photo shows the residence of Peter Sells, 755 Dennison Ave. in 1898.

While the Sells Brothers Circus is no longer, its legacy lives on in Columbus. In fact, the mansion that once belonged to the family, now known as The Circus House, is one of the most iconic homes in the city. The stunning mansion was designed by renowned architect Frank Packard and recently underwent a renovation. You can even rent the Carriage House behind the main property as a short term rental!