America's story

The other surviving wagon from the continent-themed group is America.  Like Asia, the America wagon was rebuilt in 1917 to give it more versatility.  The figures on top were removed and the sides extended up.  The America wagon was then commonly used as a bandwagon.  After a fire at their winter quarters that destroyed most of their wagons, the Cole Bros. Circus altered America once again in 1940, fitting it with a steam calliope.  It was then briefly owned by a boiler company in Milwaukee called Cleaver-Brooks before being presented to Circus World Museum in 1959.  It has since been restored to its 1940 appearance and still functions as a steam calliope. 

Asia and America
America's story