Just Clowning Around….. How to Find the Locations of Early Circuses

I wanted to share about a metal detecting site resource that I suspect not many are aware of…. Circuses.  The average person when they think of a circus almost immediately think of lions and tigers and clowns along with trapeze acts, elephants, popcorn and FUN!  This is going to focus on the FUN aspect because that is where the money is……waiting on you to come find! 

Why Circuses?

In the 1800s, circuses were a primary form of entertainment for people across America and Europe. In America alone, the site I am going to share with you lists 147,287 locations where circuses performed, and the site lists them all the way back to about 1850.  Of particular interest are the ones in small towns across the country.  Circuses were a spectacle that combined a variety of acts, including acrobats, clowns, animal performances, and exotic shows, offering something for everyone in the audience. People attended circuses for a combination of reasons, including:

Entertainment and Escape: For many people, particularly in small towns and rural areas, circuses represented a rare opportunity for entertainment. With limited access to theaters, movies (which didn’t exist yet), or other forms of mass entertainment, circuses provided a chance to see something new and exciting. The thrill of seeing exotic animals like elephants or lions, watching acrobats defy gravity, and laughing at the antics of clowns gave people a break from the daily routine.

As a Social Event: The circus also served as a social event, bringing together people from various walks of life. In small towns especially the opportunity to see and interact with places and peoples for far away places  could be the highlight of the year. People would gather to socialize, meet friends and family, and spend a day out of the ordinary, and for our entertainment and benefit….to lose coins!

Cultural Curiosity: As I say above circus often featured acts and performers from far-flung parts of the world. It was not uncommon to see exotic animals, performers from different countries, and acts that were hard to imagine for people who had limited exposure to other cultures. This served as a way for people to witness the “wonders” of the world without leaving their hometowns.

Think About the Coin Lines at the Circus

From a metal detecting standpoint, the  most interesting aspect of the circus experience is the “coin line.” These were designated areas where people could throw or toss coins in order to win prizes or stand in line to gain access to certain attractions. The coin lines were part of a larger set of carnival-style games that would line the periphery of the circus grounds.

The coin lines at the gaming areas of a circus worked as a form of entertainment and gambling, where participants could aim coins at various targets or toss them into certain containers in hopes of winning a prize. The prizes could range from small trinkets to larger rewards like stuffed animals, hand-crafted items, or other novelties. While the coin lines were simple games, they played an important role in drawing people into the atmosphere of the circus, offering another form of fun and another opportunity to lose money.  Many of the areas where coin lines were had dirt and grass as the material underneath people with money. 

The coin lines where people stood in line waiting to buy tickets also caused coins to be lost.  Anxious kids messing around their parents, hands in and out of pants pockets or purses.  Sometimes, these caused coins to drop out onto the ground…..and then be covered over. 

An Example for You

A year and a half ago, I received a phone call from Ken X, who lives in Ohio and he called me after a podcast I was on that he came across.  Ken had located what appeared to be a picnic ground and perhaps a fairground for circuses back in the 1800’s.  He was wanting to have an understanding of where to look in this small acre area.  My advice to him was to simply go fast and not be focused initially on precision overlapping swings.  Further I explained that when he got a signal he should go in a spiral shape ever increasing radius to about 15 ft or so.  We spoke of many possibilities and he went back and over the course of the past year and a half, he has found well in excess of 200 coins from the 1800s.  Here is a pic of that small area that he drew and placed stickers on where he found them.  This is not the most recent pic, but I wanted to let you know I can see three patterns of concentrated coins on the pic.  Can you?

Ken has done an amazing job documenting his finds at this location and to have found all of those 1800s coins is remarkable.  If nothing else, you can see the concentrated areas where finds were made. 

Alcohol at the Circus

Alcohol was often available at circuses, particularly in the later 1800s and early 1900s as they became larger, more commercialized events. Alcohol served as an additional revenue stream for circus organizers. Many circuses had concessions that sold beer, wine, and sometimes stronger spirits, catering to the adult audience.

Alcohol was typically sold in tents or booths near the performance area or at special “beer gardens,” where adults could gather and socialize before, during, or after the shows. It was not uncommon for these beer gardens or drinking areas to be lively, and the atmosphere could be raucous, particularly in larger, urban events where the crowds were more diverse. Alcohol would have been part of the social experience for some, allowing them to relax and enjoy the entertainment.  And we all know what can happen when alcohol and money are involved in a big gathering.  It will often end up on the ground and become  hidden from view.

Gambling and Games at the Circus

In addition to coin lines, circuses also often featured other types of games that allowed people to wager money and test their luck. These games were generally part of the carnival atmosphere that surrounded the circus and helped to create an immersive entertainment experience. Some of the common games at these events included:

1. Ring Toss: A classic carnival game, where participants would try to throw rings onto bottles or pegs. If they succeeded, they won a prize, often a stuffed animal or toy.
2. Wheel of Fortune: Sometimes, circuses or carnival sections featured spinning wheels where patrons could place bets and win prizes. This type of gambling game was popular at the time and allowed people to wager small amounts of money on a chance to win.
3. Poker and Card Games: In the more adult-oriented areas of the circus, gambling games like poker, faro, and other card games could be found. These games were not always officially sanctioned by the circus organizers, but it was not uncommon for the circus grounds to have informal gambling areas, where patrons could risk money in games of chance. This was particularly true in larger, more established circus shows or in traveling “Wild West” shows that included more adult entertainment.
4. Slot Machines and Other Games of Chance: As gambling laws began to develop over the course of the 19th century, some circuses may have included early versions of slot machines or other games of chance, offering another way for people to lose money while enjoying the festivities.

The Culture of Gambling at the Circus

Gambling at the circus was often seen as a thrilling, albeit risky, part of the circus experience. It was closely tied to the overall carnival atmosphere, which thrived on the excitement of chance. For many people, the chance to win something—whether it was a stuffed animal from a ring toss game or a pot of winnings from poker—added to the excitement and allure of attending the circus.

For those looking for more substantial gambling (and therefore more coins lost), side shows or other sections of the circus grounds might offer poker games or card tables where individuals could wager larger sums. These areas, often segregated from the main circus performances, would offer a more adult entertainment atmosphere, where people could not only enjoy the circus but also engage in the social and economic dynamics of gambling.  And when you mix alcohol with gambling….coins will be lost!

How to Find the Locations of Circuses in your state from mid 1800’s to 1900s and Later

If you’re looking to uncover the specific locations where circuses performed in cities and towns across America between 1850 and 1950, there are several research methods you should try in order  to find this historical data. Let’s look at several ways to effectively research circus locations using both online archives and physical resources, including tips on using newspaper databases and historical circus route documentation.

1. Utilize Historical Circus Route Information

In this article, the primary  source for tracking circus locations is the Circus History website (https://circushistory.org/routes/), which provides detailed records on circus routes and schedules from the 19th and 20th centuries. This website maintains an extensive archive of circus itineraries, which can help pinpoint the dates and cities where circuses traveled across America.

Go to https://circushistory.org/routes/

• Select a state  from the list of states to begin with our quest.

The route records will typically list:

• The circus or troupe name
• The date the circus visited a particular town or city
• Locations where circuses performed, such as fairgrounds, parks, or other large open spaces.
• This resource is incredibly well defined with the ability to sort by city, county, state, years, even country. 

I believe you will be astounded by the information that is readily available to start doing research to find those specific locations where treasures await you.  Since Texas is where I live I can tell you that in Texas alone, there are 6,781 records of specific circus venues from the 1800’s and moving forward, with 6,080 occurring before 1964.   Imagine all of the older coins that lie dormant in the earth waiting for your coil to light them up!

Here is a glimpse of what is on here near me in Texas:

An important and wonderful aspect of this information on this site is that  you can sort this list by any of the header titles.  PLUS, you can export the data to excel format. 

For my example let’s look here at Stephenville Texas in Erath County with the understanding that the same sort of information should be in your area as well:

I guarantee there are some silver and likely gold treasures waiting to be found by some diligent treasure hunter…..is it you?  If it is and you live near me, you should invite me along just for the fun of it.

I used Stephenville as an example, but you can download the excel file at the Circus Routes site and sort by town and easily find a venue near you.  I want to stress how this will apply anywhere in the USA where Circuses visited.  I also want to point out that the smaller towns and villages should be the ones you pay close attention to.  Now let’s go forward and find out more about the location of the circuses.

2. Research Through Newspaper Archives

Newspapers were the primary medium for advertising circus performances in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many regional newspapers published announcements, ads, and reviews of circus performances, making them invaluable for tracing circus locations.

Several online newspaper archives can be used to uncover circus-related articles, and the two most comprehensive databases are NewspaperArchives.com and Newspapers.com. Here’s how to use these databases effectively:

a) NewspaperArchives.com

• Search for circus advertisements by entering terms such as “circus,” “wild west show,” or “big top” combined with the name of the town or city (in my example  “Stephenville Texas Circus”).
• Limit your search to the years between 1850 and 1964 to focus on the relevant period, since that is the last year of the silver coins.
• Look for articles detailing specific circus shows, including the venue, dates, and special attractions.

b) Newspapers.com

• Use search terms like “circus,” “performance,” “tour,” or “big top” in combination with specific towns or cities.
• Explore sections for local event listings, reviews, and advertisements.
• Narrow down the search results to the relevant timeframe (1850-19XX).

3. Key Search Terms for Newspaper Databases

To maximize your search in these archives, consider using the following search terms:

• “Circus in [City Name]”
• “Big Top in [City Name]”
• “Wild West Show”
• “[Circus Name] performance in [City Name]”
• “Circus performance [year]”
• “Traveling circus in [Region/Town Name]”
• “Circus advertisement”
• “Performing elephants, acrobats, or clowns in [City Name]”

These terms will yield results that include advertisements, reviews, and reports that provide precise locations, dates, and names of the shows that performed in each town or city.

4. Types of Locations Circuses Leased in and around towns (1850-1900s)

Circuses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically itinerant, traveling from one town to the next in a circular route, stopping in various cities and towns for one or two-day performances. Understanding the types of places where these circuses set up their shows is crucial for researching their locations, so let’s talk about that.

a) Fairgrounds and Parks

Fairgrounds were some of the most common venues for circuses. These large open spaces provided enough room for the big tops, seating for thousands of spectators, and space for animal acts. Many circuses would lease the local fairgrounds when they passed through town during the local fair season. The fairgrounds were often located on the outskirts of towns but could also be situated within the town limits.

b) Theaters and Opera Houses

In larger cities, circuses sometimes performed in opera houses or theaters. While these locations weren’t always the best for the massive big tops, they could accommodate smaller, indoor acts, particularly during the winter months when outdoor venues were impractical due to weather conditions.

c) Empty Lots and Vacant Lands

Circuses also used open lots or vacant land in urban areas for setting up their tents. These locations would be advertised locally, offering a place for townspeople to gather and witness the spectacle. In rural areas, these performances were often held on farmland or other large open spaces.

d) Railroad Yards

Given that some circuses in the 19th and early 20th centuries were highly dependent on railroads to transport their equipment and performers, circuses frequently performed near railroad yards, where they could easily set up their tents and stages and quickly break down their shows. The proximity to rail lines was crucial to the movement of the circus, and performances were often held at these locations for logistical reasons.

e) Public Squares

In some towns, circuses would set up in public squares or the town center. These centrally located spaces were easy to access and allowed for large crowds to gather. The townspeople would have been familiar with these spaces as they were also used for markets, public events, and political gatherings.

5. Further Research Strategies

Now that you have the general information on the types of locations used, let’s narrow down our search effort.  So, in addition to using online databases and historical archives, you may also want to consult local libraries, historical societies, and city archives in your area.  Many towns and cities kept records of events that included circus performances. If you’re focusing on a specific town or city in your state, visiting these local institutions should  yield additional insights into where circuses performed.

Local archives, museum collections, and historical newspapers at the state or county level will  provide rare documentation of circus performances, such as maps, event programs, and even personal accounts from people who attended.

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Finding the locations of circuses in your area  between 1850 and the 1900’s can be make your metal detecting exploits pay off handsomely.  And by using resources like the Circus History website and newspaper archives such as NewspaperArchives.com and Newspapers.com you will find a clear route for tracking circus performances across the state. Further by focusing on keywords, specific venues, and the historical context of circus routes, you can paint a detailed picture of where these exciting performances took place and the locations that hosted them throughout America.  In turn, this will help you find those areas where coins were lost.  I have found a few coin lines in my detecting life, and be sure, I have left many thousands for your to find as well.  So Y’all quit clowning around, and get out there and find those coins lost by all of those many thousands of children and adults who not only enjoyed the circus performers but gave us all something to enjoy decades later.  Happy Hunting!