Handbill: Advertisement for Barnum's American Museum featuring the Living Hippopotamus and the Great Sea Lion, August 19, 1861

Handbill for Barnum's American Museum, August 19, 1862. One side of the handbill features that Wonderful Living Hippopotamus including an illustration of two hippos and a man in front of one, likely the hippopotamus keeper Salaama who is named further down on the bill. On the opposite side of the handbill is a long list of other features at the museum for the week, including the Great Bear Samson, a great sea lion, the What Is It? (performer William Henry Johnson) and information about the currently showing play, Artful Dodge. Printed by Herald Print, August 1861. 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 tableaux, 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.