Newspaper: Illustrated News for January 1, 1853, American Museum advertisement. The museum ad is in the rightmost column, and describes the wonders... Show moreNewspaper: Illustrated News for January 1, 1853, American Museum advertisement. The museum ad is in the rightmost column, and describes the wonders 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. Illustrated News, January 1, 1853 Show less