Thursday, March 28, 2024
Barnum's Bridgeport, Heroes and Villains

P.T.Barnum

1810-1891

Phineas Taylor Barnum (P.T. Barnum) was born in Bethel, Connecticut on July 5, 1810.  After a Connecticut boyhood, he became interested in entrepreneurial enterprises which included a variety of businesses, such as owning a newspaper, amusements, show business and other entertainment ideas.  He ran the American Museum in New York where he exhibited acts like Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren.  He travelled throughout the world and started the 3-ring circus with partner James Bailey.   P.T. Barnum became known as the World’s Greatest Showman.”

Mary Witkowski
Mary K. Witkowski is the former Bridgeport City Historian and the Department Head of the Bridgeport History Center, Emeritus. She is the author of Bridgeport at Work, and the co-author with Bruce Williams of Bridgeport on the Sound. Mary has had a newspaper column in the Bridgeport News, a blog for the Connecticut Post, and a weekly spot on WICC. She continues to be involved in many community based activities and initiatives on local history and historic preservation.