Cage Wagons

Cage wagons generally held the more dangerous wild animals of the menagerie.  Big cats, bears, baboons, even hippos and giraffes could be paraded using cage wagons.  After the parade, the wagons were circled along the inside "walls" of the menagerie tent, where patrons could see the animals up-close before heading into the big top.  Once the show had started, the wagons of performing animals could then be spotted beside and attached to the steel arena at the time of their act.  During transportation, cage wagons had fitted coverings for the bars, so that nobody got a free peek.