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An Illustrated Catalogue And Guide Book To Barnum's American Museum

Creator: Phineas T. Barnum (author)
Date: Circa 1860
Publisher: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck & Thomas, New York
Source: Robert Bogdan Collection
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1

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No. 884. -- CASE -- THE HAPPY FAMILY. A miscellaneous collection of beasts and birds (upwards of sixty in number), living together harmoniously in one large cage, each of them being the mortal enemy of every other, but contentedly playing and frolicking together, without injury or discord. At the time of the issue of this book, the family comprises 8 doves, 4 owls, 10 rats, 2 cats, 2 dogs, 1 hawk, 3 rabbits, 1 rooster, 8 Guinea Pigs, 1 Raccoon, 2 Cavas, 1 Cuba Rat, 3 Ant Eaters, 7 Monkeys, 2 Woodchucks, 1 Opossum, 1 Armadilla, &c., &c.

THE LECTURE ROOM, ETC.
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The visitor can now ascend another staircase, and he will then find himself upon the roof of this immense establishment, where he can enjoy an excellent view of the city, and of the streets in the vicinity of the Museum. In the small room adjoining the Parapet is exhibited the celebrated Drummond Light, which can be seen for more than a mile along Broadway, when illuminated.

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By descending to the Lower Saloons, the visitor will observe the entrances to the Lecture Room, the beauty of which, and the interesting nature of the representations given therein, combine to render it one of the most attractive departments of the establishment. In every detail it is most gorgeous, and is not inferior to like constructions in the palaces of European sovereigns and nobles. Great attention will be observed to have been given to ventilation. The windows and doors are numerous, and to add to the coolness of the structure, the parquet and balcony partitions are but partial, and a large space is therefore left free for the circulation of air. The proscenium consists of stage doors and private boxes, between pilasters of the Corinthian order of architecture, the whole being white and gold. Rich draperies grace the arch above the stage, displaying numerous flags, beneath which appears the motto, "We study to please." The orchestra, like the balconies, is of open trellis work, and white, the latter being gilt and burnished. Rich crimson damask paper covers the walls, while velvet, of the same color, forms the covering to the seats. The centre of the ceiling is elaborately gilt and radiated, while all without is a blending of beautiful and varied colors, intervening with a number of medallion compartments. In the orchestra is a magnificent Piano-forte, made expressly for the museum, at a cost of $1,000, by Chickering & Sons, of Boston. A magnificent chandelier is suspended on each side of the proscenium, and ornamental bracket lights, with ground glass globes, are arranged around the balcony fronts.

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The following are illustrations and descriptions of living and other curiosities which have been, from time to time, exhibited in the Museum, always without extra charge, the proprietor and manager believing that a uniform price of admission, however great the attractions he might be enabled to offer, would be more satisfactory to his visitors, and profitable to the establishment. First and foremost stands GENERAL TOM THUMB, who was one of the earliest of Mr. Barnum's extra attractions, and whose fame is world-wide, having visited every country of Europe, and been received by every court and crowned head, and patronized by the nobility and gentry, as well as the masses of the people. Everywhere the General has been received with marked attention, and has amassed quite a fortune since his majority, as well as enriched his family during his minority. He possesses a fine country residence at Bridgeport, Ct., his native place, where he resides when not on exhibition.

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The following illustration represents GENERAL TOM THUMB'S CARRIAGE and Ponies, presented to him by Her Majesty, queen Victoria.

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THE HIGHLAND FAT BOYS, Charles and Alexander Stuart, whom Mr. Barnum found in Scotland, and regarding them as great curiosities, at once engaged them for his Museum, where they were exhibited with much success for several months.

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RUDOLPH LUCASIE, WIFE AND CHILD -- The most remarkable case of albinoism on the record, probably the only one ever known of an entire family possessing this peculiarity. They were first seen by Mr. Barnum at Amsterdam, in Holland, and by him induced to visit America. Their exhibition at the Museum has been successful, and they have been uniformly regarded as a most singular freak of nature. They will probably spend some years in this country ere they return to their homes to enjoy the comfortable fortune their peculiarities are gaining for them.

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THE FAT GIRL -- HANNAH COUCH -- A most remarkable case of obesity, and generally regarded as a great curiosity. She was exhibited at the Museum several months, and obtained a notoriety which enabled her to exhibit throughout the country with considerable success.

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THE TWO LIVING AZTEC CHILDREN. -- A male and female, aged 17 and 24 years, said to be descendants of the sacerdotal caste, now nearly extinct, of the ancient Aztec founders of the ruined temples of Central America and Yucatan. They are the most extraordinary specimens of the human race ever known; their form and features unlike any other human being, their heads smaller than an infant's a week old, measuring only thirteen inches in circumference, while that of an ordinary adult measures 22 to 23 inches. Their history approaches the marvelous, yet interesting. They have been exhibited throughout nearly the entire civilized world, and their reception has been the most flattering. They were patronized, in Europe, by all the crowned heads, nobility, and gentry; have attracted the attention of eminent savans of both hemispheres, and after critical examinations have been pronounced the most wonderful human beings ever brought to the notice of the public.

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THE INFANT DRUMMER. -- A boy only 5 or 6 years old, a perfect musical prodigy. He beat the drum equal to any practised Major, and created a furor of excitement amongst the lovers of the soul-stirring drum.

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WHAT IS IT? -- A very singular creature, possessing alike the features and characteristics of both man and brute. He was found in the interior of Africa in a perfectly natural state, roving about like a monkey or Orang Outang. He was captured with great difficulty, and brought to this country, where he has been exhibited over a year without the least abatement in the public interest. While his face, hands, and arms are distinctly human, his head, feet and legs are more like the Orang Outang, indicating his mixed ancestry.

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CAFFREES FROM CHILI. -- These unique animals were the only specimens of the kind ever seen, and were uniformly regarded with the deepest interest. They appeared to have more intelligence even than the Orang Outang, and were less vicious. Their general position was upright, as represented in the cut; were docile and affectionate. The shape of their heads was between that of the Orang Outang and humanity; their hands and arms very much like human but their feet and legs more like the Orang Outang or monkey; their tails were as represented, in the cut, and they used them as handily as their hands, would pick up the smallest object with them, like the meat of a pea-nut, &c., and put it in their mouths as handily as with their fingers.

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MAJOR LITTLE FINGER -- The smallest dwarf ever exhibited, and though not as intelligent and interesting as Tom Thumb, was regarded by the public as an object of great interest, and attracted thousands of visitors to the Museum.

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THE GREAT LIVING BLACK SEA LION -- Captured on the Pacific coast 1,200 miles north of San Francisco, the only animal of the kind ever exhibited alive east of the Rocky mountains. He requires 16 barrels of sea water every day and eats 60 lbs. of fish every 24 hours, facts which give some adequate idea of his size. It is worth the price of admission to the Museum to see him alone. He is, evidently, the fabled Neptune, King of the Ocean.

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VANTILE MACK, THE GIANT BABY -- Only 7 years old, yet weighed 257 pounds, measured 61 inches round the chest, and just one yard round the thigh; the largest child of his age ever known. He was visited, at the Museum, by hundreds of thousands, and never failed to astonish the most incredulous. He was reared in one of the rural districts of Pennsylvania, and died in New York City, in February, 1861, literally suffocated with his own fat.

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THE SWISS BEARDED LADY -- A genteel and accomplished lady -- yet possessing as fine and heavy Beard and Whiskers as ever graced the face of a man, freak of nature which the science of man has never been able to account for.

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THE GREAT GRIZZLY MAMMOTH BEAR SAMSON. -- The largest ever captured alive, weighing near 2,000 pounds. He was caught by J.C. Adams, in the wilds of California.

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A LIVING LEARNED SEAL. -- One of the most interesting objects of nature, and unquestionably the most beautiful inhabitant of the ocean. Few objects in the museum attract more general attention, or afford more pleasure to visitors of every age and grade.

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THE ALBINO SISTERS AND THEIR BLACK MOTHER AND SISTER. -- The history of this family seems almost miraculous. The father and mother both black, and distinctly African, yet each alternate child, (and they have had fifteen) has been white and black; the white children's features being so decidedly Ethiopian as to preclude the possibility of doubt as to their being purely African. They are beyond all doubt, White Negroes.

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MISS DORA DAWRON, THE DOUBLE-VOICED VOCALIST, who sings with equal cue and effect a loud and manly, tenor and a delicate, feminine soprano, and being dressed one half as a man, the other half as a lady, and changing to the audience simultaneously with the change of voice, the effect is both novel and amusing.

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LADY WITH LONG HAIR. -- As represented in the illustration, this lady's hair, which flowed gracefully over her neck and shoulders, had attained an almost incredible growth, trailing upon the floor as she walked, the admiration of every beholder. Want of space forbids the enumeration of all or even of a moiety of the various novelties which have been on exhibition at the Museum, but the above, in connection with the illustrations, and the text in the body of this Catalogue, will give the public a very good idea of the class of curiosities which the Manager endeavors to secure for the fortification and amusement of his patrons; and when the public remembers that his efforts to obtain new curiosites -sic- are never relaxed, but that he has agents in every clime and every habitable part of the globe to secure for his use everything novel and amusing, they will more than ever regard the American Museum as richly deserving the extensive patronage it continues to enjoy.

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THE ORIGINAL HERR DRIESBACK WITH OLD GRIZZLY ADAMS' CELEBRATED CALIFORNIA MENAGERIE of living Bears, of various kinds, which he exhibits and performs in the most amusing and laughable manner, dressed like men and women. One he exhibits as a "Spinster in search of a Husband;" another as "An Old Soldier who prefers surrendering to fighting;" another as an "Old Toper on a Bender;" another as a Patriot, who prefers Death to the Dissolution of the Union! And a variety of other feats which BEARS NEVER PERFORMED BEFORE! There are Grizzly Bears, Cinnamon Bears, Hyena Bears, Dancing Bears, Singing Bears, &c., &c.

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These Bears are on exhibition at the time of the publication of this Catalogue, and will remain so for several weeks, being the most unique and attractive exhibition of Wild Animals ever offered to the American public.

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-The following is from the back page of the booklet.-

Barnum's American Museum.
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The only place of amusement in America honored with a VISIT FROM THE PRINCE OF WALES who, with the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, EARL ST. GERMAINS, and others of his suite, expressed himself delighted with the Curiosities he examined.

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THE WONDER OF AMERICA, and unquestionably, from its position, character and popularity, as well as from its attractions of the most amusing, instructive and moral character, the special place of FAMILY AMUSEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. Perhaps there never was before in the world such an instance of extraordinary success as this museum presents. Mr. Barnum devotes his constant energies and attends personally to the minutest details of the Museum, his chief design being not only to give his patrons novelties and amusements worth five times the price of admission, but also to PLEASE THEM in every respect. He has established agencies in nearly every portion of the globe, through which, with an almost reckless disregard of expenditure, he is constantly procuring every novelty which his large experience suggests will be interesting to his visitors. Hence it is acknowledged by all extensive travelers and intelligent observers that in the whole world there is not an institution which provides a tithe of the healthy amusement blended with valuable instruction for old and young which may be found here. The extraordinary LIVING CURIOSITIES which are constantly appearing here, in a variety truly astonishing, are confessedly a valuable exhibition of themselves. The GRAND AQUARIA (first introduced into this country by Mr. Barnum), the original and only real Ocean and River Garden in America, with its Crystal Ponds of salt and fresh water containing myriads of rare, beautiful and curious fish from far-distant as well as local seas and rivers, forms a study most refined and delightful, and worth going many miles to enjoy. The "HAPPY FAMILY," Comprising hundreds of living beasts and birds of opposite natures, trained to live together in the most perfect harmony, must be seen to be realised. The Seven Grand saloons, which are OPEN DAY AND EVENING, embody 850,000 Curiosities, and comprise Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Insects, Minerals, Coins, Picture and Portrait Gallery, gorgeous Cosmoramic Views of the most interesting scenes in the world, Wax Figures, Relics of the Revolution, Rare Articles from Pompeii, Herculaneum, Nineveh, Egypt, &c. Also, Hindoo, Hottentot, Esquimaux and Arctic Sea Curiosities, &c. The ELEGANT SALOON PERFORMANCES take place in the prettiest and most comfortable "Lecture Room" in the world, EVERY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, (Sundays excepted ) and comprise every thing that is attractive, amusing, touching, effective and agreeable to the most fastidious tastes.

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In a speech recently delivered before the patrons of the Museum, at the opening of the Fall and Winter Season, Mr. Barnum says: "I am by no means unaware of the great influence for good which this establishment is capable of exerting upon the public mind. I feel the responsibility of my position, and I therefore gladly renew my pledge to families and the better portion of the community to keep the Museum always free from every objectionable feature, to permit no intoxicating drinks within its halls, no vulgar or profane allusions on the stage, no improper visitors of either sex, and to use the same precaution to protect any visitors while in the Museum that I would my own family, so that any lady or child shall be safe here as in their own house."

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SUNDAY SCHOOLS will always be admitted on the most favorable terms. Application can be made either in person or by letter to either the manager or his Assistant.

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ADMSION TO THE ENTIRE MUSEUM, including all the Curiosities, as well as the Grand Saloon Performances, 25 Cents. Children under 10 years, 15 Cents. Seats in Parquet and Balcony, 15 Cents extra