The Ringling is a sprawling estate encompassing 66 acres located in Sarasota, Florida. Perhaps a bit long for a day trip being a 3 ½-hour drive from Miami (or 3 hours from Fort Lauderdale), it can be combined with other Gulf Coast activities such as the Edison and Ford Winter Estates to make for a weekend mini-vacation. This is exactly what we did, finding a nice place to stay in Sarasota where we could also visit the Selby Botanic Gardens and other scenic sites.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art complex features the State Art Museum of Florida as well as a Circus Museum, the Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, and the Bayfront Gardens.
The Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the official art museum of the state of Florida. Initially established in 1927, the Florida State University took over management of the facility in 2000.
We were certainly not expecting it to be as large as it was! There are 21 galleries and a vast open-air courtyard housing over 10,000 objects including paintings, tapestries, and sculptures. Some of our favorites were the huge 16th century paintings in the first few galleries near the entrance. Ringling knew how to make a good first impression.
There were also Asian art exhibits in the newer wings added on to the museum. Overall an impressive collection and a wonderful venue to explore. The museum is setup in a U-shape with the statue-filled sunken inner courtyard in the middle. A huge replica of Michelangelo’s David stands at the end of the courtyard.
Be sure to download the audio guide which can point out some of the most remarkable exhibits and pieces. It was free to download, and the museum offers free Wi-Fi to run it.
Circus Museum
The Circus Museum was established in 1948 and captures the circus history from early roman times. Did you know that the name circus originated from the Latin Circus which comes from the Greek Kirkos which means ring or circle? It was said that the first circus was staged by a Goddess named Circe.
As you continue through the exhibits of various posters, models, and mini films depicting some of the early acts, you really get a sense of what it must have been like. Of course, you cannot imagine today keeping lions and tigers in cages to whip them to jump through hoops, just as you would not expect to meet a bearded lady or see a sign for the fattest man on earth. I guess this was all before the circus had an HR department, ha-ha! It was definitely a different era.
Don’t miss the huge circus wagons and the private rail car that the Ringling’s would use (The Wisconsin). You can climb up on a platform to peek inside and see how they stylishly traveled between acts in luxury.
Tibbals Learning Center
The learning center houses Howard Tibbals’ model of the Howard Brothers Circus constructed as a ¾-inch to 1-foot scale. Everything from the rail station where the cars would be unloaded to the various tents, actors and animals is laid out in a realistic snapshot of the circus in action as it might have descended upon a town.
Tibbals used old film clips and photographs to reconstruct his model and to make it as realistic as possible. He started working on the model in 1956 and completed most of it by 1974. Outside the exhibit you can see his workshop where he claims that this is still a work in progress.
The model is truly amazing, and when we first thought of a miniature model of a circus, we expected something along the lines of a 10 by 5 or perhaps a 20 or 30-foot display. We were certainly not expecting the scale of what we saw and were really blown away. The model consists of over 40,000 items and has eight circus tents, 152 circus wagons, 1,500 performers and workers along with 500 animals, many of which were carved by hand.
The miniature circus replica was first shown at the 1982 World Fair in Knoxville. In 2004 it was moved to the Ringling where it took more than a year just to set the model up as it is displayed.
Be sure to take a look at the colossal mural by the entrance: The Greatest Show on Earth.
Ca’ d’Zan
Venetian for the House of John, this waterfront mansion is just a beautiful creation. The Ringling’s worked on the design with architect Dwight James Baum. It was built by Owen Burns and finished in 1926. You need to buy a separate ticket to tour the first floor of the mansion, but it is definitely worth it. Make sure to use the audio guide (free) downloaded on your phone to hear more about the rooms and the various pieces shown.
The Ringling’s loved to entertain, and you can hear more about their parties on the audio guide. We very much enjoyed the tour of the first floor and would have loved to see the second and third floors too. You can see the amazing balcony on the roof top from the back of the property. While you cannot climb up, there are some photos at the end of the exhibit showing the Ringling’s marble bathtub, with hot, cold, fresh, and saltwater taps incorporated in the plumbing.
The marble terrace in the back with the dock area is stunning. Just try to picture the parties that must have taken place here!
Ringling Estate Gardens
The manicured grounds are a pleasure to walk around. Do make it a point to check out the various ponds and gardens.
Not to be missed is the Mable Ringling’s beautiful Rose Garden. Completed in 1913, it is laid out in an Italian inspired circular wagon wheel design. This garden is almost 30,000 sq. ft and even in the summer heat, we were amazed to see various roses in bloom. It must be even more spectacular in March or April! With over 1,000 rose bushes and over 300 distinct kinds, it is the oldest continually kept rose garden in Florida.
Walk through the Banyan tree grove as well. Stepping between the tree roots was like walking into a huge cave. The temperature went down by 10 degrees, and it felt like we were in a different place.
Near the entrance you’ll find the Dwarf Garden consisting of stone statues. The Secret Garden, near the Ca’ d’Zan, houses the burial place of John, Mable, and John’s sister Ida and buried here. Check out also the Bolger Reflecting Pool.
Visiting The Ringling & Ca’ d’Zan
Truly a work of art, The Ringling is a must-see in Sarasota, Florida. We ended up spending a full day exploring the various museums, gardens and the Ca’ d’Zan Mansion. The audio guides also enhanced our visit, and we highly recommend downloading these self-guided tours.
Ringling Museum visiting hours:
- Daily 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
- Plan on 4-6 hours to explore all the site has to offer.
Ringling Museum admission fees:
- Adults: $25
- Seniors: $23
- Children (6 to 17): $5
- Children (Under 5): FREE
- Members: FREE
- Parking: FREE
Separate tickets required for Ca’ d’Zan at a cost of $10.
Amenities at the Ringling
- The Ringling Grillroom for dine-in or take-out food
- Mable Coffee and Tea room
- The Wandering Chef Food Truck
- Picnic tables are available
- Museum Store
Other places of interest in the area include the Marie Selby Botanic Gardens and Mote Aquarium. And if you’re driving in from Miami, do stop and visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida.