Newspaper: Life Illustrated for January 31, 1857 with Barnum's American Museum. The facade of the American Museum is featured at the top, with... Show moreNewspaper: Life Illustrated for January 31, 1857 with Barnum's American Museum. The facade of the American Museum is featured at the top, with American flag visible over the museum. The four columns of text below are a lengthy write up of the museum and the attractions within. Barnum's American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street from 1841 to 1865 until it was destroyed by a fire, and then moved to 539-541 Broadway until it too was destroyed by a fire in 1868. The displays in the museum ranged from dioramas of places such as Niagara falls and the American plains, various animals including whales and trained seals, wax figure tableaus, performers, theatrical performances, inventions, scientific specimens, and curious artifacts. Barnum included what were then called humbugs, or hoaxes, and invited the public to decide for themselves if the displays in question were genuine or not. Life Illustrated, January 31, 1857. Show less