The Barnum Museum

The Barnum Museum Established in 1891 as The Barnum Institute of Science and History, The Barnum Museum now boasts an e But please check out our digital channels!
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Our exhibition hall is currently closed to the public because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conceived and constructed by the great American showman, P.T. Barnum, The Barnum Museum has proudly served an international audience since 1893, and is one of our country's great national treasures. The ornate, exotic building distinguishes the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut's uniqueness, it is a symbol of achievement and creativity, and is a testament to the pioneers and visionaries of the 19th century.

What does a Boston museum owner have to do with P.T. Barnum’s famous Fejee Mermaid?More than you might think.Our newest ...
05/27/2026

What does a Boston museum owner have to do with P.T. Barnum’s famous Fejee Mermaid?

More than you might think.

Our newest Barnum Museum video looks at Moses Kimball, one of Barnum’s closest friends, collaborators, and fellow museum entrepreneurs. Kimball operated the Boston Museum, exchanged ideas and attractions with Barnum, and helped connect Barnum to one of the most famous curiosities of his early museum career.

The story includes friendship, showmanship, museum competition, and, yes, a monkey-fish “mermaid.”

Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/l2l5PqL0rmk?si=7rkLeedx-_aMFdMh

If you enjoy these short history videos, please like, comment, share, and follow the Barnum Museum. Your engagement helps show support for more digital history content like this.

P.T. Barnum didn’t build his fame alone.One of his closest friends...

It’s been a while, but we’re back with a new video.Our latest Barnum Museum video looks at Barnum’s “Living Chinese Fami...
05/18/2026

It’s been a while, but we’re back with a new video.

Our latest Barnum Museum video looks at Barnum’s “Living Chinese Family” and the complicated history behind how Chinese performers and culture were presented to nineteenth-century American audiences.

Like many Barnum stories, this one is not simple. It touches on curiosity, entertainment, education, exploitation, racism, and the way performers were promoted at the time.
We’d love for you to watch, share, and let us know what you think.

The Museum wants to keep creating videos like this for the channel, not just Showman’s Shorts, but more stories that help explore Barnum, Bridgeport, and the wider history connected to the collection.

If you’d like to help support the channel and keep these videos coming, let us know. Every share, comment, and bit of interest helps show that people want more of this work.

In this episode of Showman’s Shorts, the Barnum Museum explores P.T...

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