Historic Circus Routes Database

A searchable index of historic circus routes by year and performance location.

This database includes the routes for over 500 circuses from over 50 countries from 1850 to present. Use the dropdown menus below to search by: Circus Name, Year, Country, State, City, and/or Full Dates.

To determine the date ranges covered in this database for a particular circus, select the Circus Name, and check the first and last Full Dates in the search results.  Note that circus names change from time to time due to mergers, etc.

For further information about the owners, staff, performers and activities of a particular circus while it was on tour, check the online Circus Route Books Collection at the Milner Library at Illinois State University.

 

Routes