The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Art museum · Sarasota ·
Art museum, circus history, and opulent mansion on grounds
Art museum, circus history, and opulent mansion on grounds
"A visit rewards unhurried exploration, from the ornate Ca’ d’Zan mansion to expansive art collections and manicured gardens." - Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York-based writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle, food, and shopping content. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A major art museum in nearby Sarasota noted for its impressive collections and gorgeously landscaped grounds, recommended as a must-visit destination a few minutes from the island." - Terry Ward Terry Ward Terry Ward is a writer covering family travel, culture, scuba diving, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A cultural complex that includes an art museum and a circus-history museum, offering diverse exhibitions that range from fine art to the unique history of the American circus." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The Ringling Museum in Sarasota is just one Florida museum dedicated to the history of carnivals and circuses."
"The artist Rubens and the elephant Dumbo may not have much in common on the surface, but John Ringling, the entrepreneur and circus magnate, unites them. During his lifetime, John Ringling, along with his wife Mabel, used their fortune to build a beautiful Venetian mansion and art collection in Sarasota, Florida. Their estate was bequeathed to the State of Florida, in hopes that Sarasota would become a cultural travel destination. The State neglected the property, but in 2000 it was turned over to Florida State University and has been restored. With funds raised by the University, a new Visitor’s Center, featuring a museum about the circus, was added to the large estate, which already offered the art museum, the Ringling’s lavish home, and the grounds with a rose garden. As with any personal collection, the assorted pieces of art and artifacts are an idiosyncratic mixture, from notable pieces by the Old Masters to Cypriot antiques. The mansion, or Ca d’Zan (House of John), is something out of the Great Gatsby. The house has been restored to the elegance it held during the Ringling’s era. The attached circus museum features the largest circus miniature in the world!" - ATLAS_OBSCURA