The American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street from December 1841 to July 1865 when it was destroyed by a fire. Barnum re-opened at 539-541 Broadway but that building too was destroyed by a fire in March 1868.
Barnum's American Museum was located on Broadway at 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 collection consists of 16, 20” x 24” folders containing long strips of newspaper with advertisements taken primarily from the New York Daily Tribune, with dates ranging from 1861 to 1874. The articles from the 1850s are taken from the New York Daily Times.
There are advertisements with illustrations or articles describing museum attractions and events. Examples include “Barnum’s American Museum – The WHALE STILL LIVES, and is daily delighting thousands of all ages, by the grace and grandeur of his movements, 1861; Moses or Israel in Egypt, Four months in preparation. Immense expenditure. This drama is founded on Ingraham’s sacred work, called the Pillar of Fire. Magnificent scenery, costumes and appointments, 1865; Afternoon at 3, Evening at 7 ½ THE TRIUMPHANTLY SUCCESSFUL DRAMA, entitled THE ORANGE GIRL, ITS IMPRESSIVE LANGUAGE, and SENSATIONAL EFFECTS are UNEQUALED IN DRAMATIC HISTORY, 1865.
NOTE: The process of identifying citations for each article is ongoing.
