From circus day in Pompey's Rome complete with lions, pachyderms and performances interspersed with chariot racing until modern day Cirque de Soleil, circuses remain the most enduring and endearing form of family entertainment in the world. 

Early Roman circuses, in keeping with the morals of the day, featured wild and exciting athletes who fought to the death for their freedom; animal duels, daring equestrians and spectacular chariot races that provided entertainment for the gregarious Roman population. 

As the dark ages settled into Europe, circus was forgotten. Groups of touring performers presenting at marketplaces trained animals, acrobatic feats and riders kept the circus fire kindling in the hearts of people. 

Out of the ashes the smoldering fire again ignited next in Britain ,when a British cavalryman, Sergeant-Major Philip Astley, a much honored and talented officer of the British Cavalry was smitten with the excitement of performing fancy riding. After wandering about the countryside showing in the typical fashion of the day, Astley stopped near London and roped off a field for his fancy riding exhibition. Astley perfected the circus ring to enhance his ability to stand on the back of a cantering horse. Interrupting equestrian feats with clown antics, a creation of Philip Astley, became the formation of our modern circus. Later Astley covered part of the ring with a shed, then added seats. Astley soon learned the intricacies of elaborate advertising, and with increased popularity enlarged and improved his now famous Amphitheater Riding School. Later, adding tumbling, rope-dancing and juggling we see the basic ingredients of the circus. 

A competitor of Philip Astley, Charles Hughes was not only famous for his English Royal Circus, but also his ability to train first-class trick riders. A pupil, John Bill Ricketts carried the spark of the circus to the colonies. An English cousin of George Washington, Mr. Ricketts gave exciting performances at the Riding School in Philadelphia. Billed as "performing great feats of horsemanship." the program also featured comic feats on horseback and ropedancing. America's first prominent circus man John Bill Ricketts trouped from Albany to Baltimore and enhanced his program with comic dances and tumbling. Ricketts Amphitheater was destroyed in a fire, discouraging him and sending him back to England. He and his ship were lost in a storm. 

 
After the War of 1812, the old style, permanent equestrian type shows were generally replaced by rolling shows that pitched their tents on village greens. They were direct ancestors of the tented circuses we love today. These were basically all American in design and theory and were started by Old Bet, an African elephant. In 1815 Hackaliah Bailey purchased Old Bet from a sea captain for $1,000. Hackaliah had such success in presenting Old Bet to the local townspeople and farmers, he arranged to purchase additional exotic animals from other ship captains. Traveling at night to avoid free spectators, Hackaliah exhibited in barns or other buildings. "Uncle Nate" Howes acquired temporary possession of Old Bet and exhibited her in the first record of a round canvas top. 

The world and American grew and changed as did the circus. From wagons, to trucks to trains, the circus continues to reward innovation and creativity. With an independent and capitalistic approach to business, the circus represents what is good and right with American spirit even today. For two thousand years the fire of the circus has burned deep in the hearts of performers as well as audiences and will continue to illuminate the world of entertainment as it continues its' evolution within the human spirit.