Barnum’s New American Museum: Grand Opening

“Barnum on Musuems. To the editor of the Herald.

            The public generally, I have reason to believe, regarded the destruction of the American Museum as a national loss, and I have the assurance that they are interested in my efforts to restore an institution to which families, strangers and the community at large resorted for instruction blended with healthful amusement. . . .

            [Description of new venue.]

            A superior dramatic company is engaged, and a rapid succession of moral dramas, magnificent spectacles, and occasional equestrian performances will be produced for the gratification of the public who have always generously acknowledged my efforts to please.

            I have learned by happy experience that he who gives the people the best and the most that is possible for their money may rely upon their constant and unceasing patronage, and I shall never fail to be governed by this practical lesson.

            I have only to add to this outline, that the new Museum will be opened on Monday, September 4, and that I shall immediately afterwards proceed to Europe to enlarge and expedite important purchases and arrangements now in progress by my agents. Truly yours, P. T. Barnum. New York, August, 1865.”

Barnum’s “temporary museum in the old Chinese building [has] been fitted up in a very neat manner.  Performances will be given every afternoon and evening on the stage, and the rooms up stairs, which are well stocked with glass cases containing many rare and valuable curiosities, will be thrown open to the visitors.”

Describes Barnum’s new museum.

Large ad.  Lists members of the dramatic company, the architect and several others involved in the new building, and additional staff.  “The Learned Seal, whose singular intelligence elicits the Astonishment of All. . . . The Museum, as heretofore, will be open from Sunrise till 10 P.M., every day in the year (Sundays excepted) for dramatic and other entertainments.  A New and Magnificent Lecture Room has been constructed, capable of Holding 2,500 persons. . . . Gorgeous Spectacles, Splendid Moral Dramas, Chaste and Amusing Farces, Comic Singing, Dancing, Magic, &c. . . . A Large and efficient Orchestra, under the able direction of Mr. F. W. Peterschen. . . . An Opening Address will be delivered by Mr. P. T. Barnum.”

A detailed account of Barnum’s new museum.

Lists Ned.  Detailed description of the new venue.

“The building has been entirely remodeled, and is now one of the most convenient places of amusement in the city. The stage is a large one, and well adapted to the proper production of any kind of a spectacular piece.  There is a good sized parquet, a large dress circle and a commodious family circle.  Up stairs and fronting on Broadway are five grand exhibition rooms of curiosities, including everything that it is possible to collect in the geological, numismatical, conchological and ichthyological world, besides specimens of natural history, wax statuary, paintings and historical relics…As in the Museum lately destroyed by fire, the Aquaria has been made a feature of here, and many of the most rare and curious fish in the world are to be seen.  A Happy Family has been gathered together, and Jocko, the parrot, the dog, cat and squirrels will lie down together in perfect harmony.  Among the many curiosities will be found a mammoth turtle, Woodruff’s Glass Blowers, who fortunately saved both of their glass steam engines from the old Museum, the Nova Scotia giantess Anna Swan, the Fat Woman, the Circassian Family, the learned seal, Ned, who was also saved from the devouring element, as well as a host of other curiosities too numerous to mention…Mr. W.B. Harrison, the extemporaneous singer, will enliven the scene with one of his comic songs and hits at the time.”

“That part of the building where dramatic performances are given was filled to its utmost during the afternoon and evening, and every evening during the week the parquet and two circles were uncomfortably filled to witness the spectacular drama of the ‘Children of Cypress,’ which was very well put upon the stage…The drop curtain is a capital picture of the old Museum….[Barnum] has got a very attractive museum of curiosities, and one of the neatest little theatres in this city.”