Physical object: Ribbon for dedication of statue of P.T. Barnum at Seaside Park, Bridgeport, Conn.
White ribbon with blue ink and fringed bottom. It reads "Unveiling of the Barnum Statue" and features a portrait of Barnum in his later years,... Show moreWhite ribbon with blue ink and fringed bottom. It reads "Unveiling of the Barnum Statue" and features a portrait of Barnum in his later years, wearing a suit and bow tie. Below the portrait it reads "Bridgeport, Conn. July 4th, 1893." P.T. Barnum thought about his legacy quite a bit, and had a monumental sculpture done of himself by the artist Thomas Ball in 1888. It sat in a warehouse on Barnum's orders, who wanted it erected only after his death. The statue was unveiled in Seaside Park on the 4th of July, 1893, two years following Barnum's death. It was a massive event, as it coincided with the usual 4th of July celebrations. Show less