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Press Release
The Ringling Announces New History Mapping Project
Sarasota, Florida - The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is celebrating the completion of a new digital history project. Slips, Falls, Mishaps and Tragedies: Mapping Circus Accidents, 1893 explores the darker, dangerous side of circus life. The work, presented as a GIS Story Map, provides an interactive overview of the railroad routes of 5 circuses during the 1893 season and the accidents that occurred along the way.
Joy Feagan, a New College Grad and summer Archives intern at The Ringling, was the driving force behind the project. “My goal was to create an engaging, interactive display of our printed and visual materials related to accidents that would allow viewers to grasp the dangers faced by circus staff and performers on a daily basis,” said Feagan. “Awareness of these dangers facilitates a greater appreciation of circus workers’ amazing resilience fueled by their belief that the show must go on.”
Ms. Feagan spent several months working on the project under the direction of Chief archivist, Heidi Connor. Connor said “This technology allows us to look at historical events in a new way. We are very proud of the work that Joy has done and look forward to more opportunities to utilize technology, such as GIS Mapping, to preserve historically significant documents, make the archives accessible and tell stories that are engaging to diverse audiences.”
The project may be seen at https://arcg.is/0fi44q
About The Ringling
The Ringling is a pre-eminent center for the arts, history and learning that is dedicated to bringing the past and contemporary culture to life through extraordinary visitor experiences. From its inception, The Ringling has joined the diverse visual traditions and theatrical spectacle of yesterday with the genre-defying global practitioners of today.
A place of exploration, discovery and respite, The Ringling’s campus in Sarasota, Florida – which includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, an historic mansion, an 18th-century theater and bayfront gardens – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As the State Art Museum of Florida and part of Florida State University, The Ringling fulfills an important educational mission. The Ringling offers formal and informal programs of study serving as a major resource for students, scholars, and lifelong learners of every age within the region, across the country and around the world.
