Gibsonton, Florida: Fascinating History and Fond Memories of Circus “Freaks”
“See the pig-faced man and the monkey girl
-Mark Knopfler, “Devil Baby”
Come see the big fat lady
‘Gator slim with the alligator skin
Come see the devil baby.”
Gibsonton, Florida – affectionally called “Gibtown” – is an unassuming community. Folks driving along Route 41 can pass right on through without noticing anything peculiar. Most probably wouldn’t even consider stopping, unless it was to fill the gas tank.
However, for those in the know, Gibsonton Florida is home to an amazing history of showmanship. Here, oddities were once commodities, and through such differences, everyone found a sense of belonging. “Gibtown” was both a wintertime haven and retirement destination for renowned circus “freaks.”
Though circus days have faded away, Gibsonton still retains that inimitable spirit of showmanship. With an annual trade show, carnival museum, and boot memorial, you can relive the glory days of P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers!
Gibsonton and the Big Top
Circuses, with their striped tents, exotic animals, and over-the-top shows, saw their heyday during the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties.1 Circus sideshow performers, more commonly called circus freaks, were a staple of the industry. Although it was a different era, people never change: we are always fascinated, and sometimes fearful, of what is different than us.
This is something Ward Hall – a showman, manager, and guardian of freaks – understood well. He arrived in Gibtown in 1967, well into the decline of circuses. With a knack for showbiz and an eye for potential, Ward saw the folks labeled as “freaks” as fantastic people. He reasoned that society was going to stare anyway, so, why not make them pay for it? He kept the “carnie” lifestyle alive for decades beyond its supposed expiration date with his World of Wonders.
As Ward saw it, the Gibsonton freak show was a right to work. It allowed outcasts to make money, created a makeshift family, and gave them a place to stay where they felt at home. “I was the Papa,” Ward said with pride.2
Some of his famous “family” included Priscilla the Monkey Girl (she was born with hypertrichosis, causing dark hair to grow all over her body) and Emmitt the Alligator-Skinned Man (his condition, ichthyosis, caused him to have scaly, reptilian skin). Priscilla and Emmitt fell in love, married, and remained in Gibsonton for the rest of their lives.3
In fact, most of the freaks stayed in Gibtown, with Ward, for their entire lives.
The Giant and his wife, the Half-Woman, ran a restaurant and campground. Siamese twins ran a fruit stand. Big cats lived in back yards, and the post office had special counters for little people.4 In its own way, Gibtown was one of the most inclusive places in the United States.
However, as time went on, freak shows were branded as exploitive and made illegal in many states. New job opportunities were created for people with debilitating conditions through the American Disabilities Act. While Ward was thankful for some of the changes that made life easier on the freaks, he was never convinced that doing away with sideshows was the right answer.
Remembering Louise Capps Hill, an armless girl who could drive a tractor, play guitar, and raised her family on her farm, Ward told an interviewer, “You and I will see them and say, ‘Oh my God, what handicap to have no arms at all’ – but there was nothing that girl couldn’t do.”5
Gibtown, where freaks could feel at home, was an expression of certain freedom: the ability to do anything, no matter who you are.
The Show Goes On At The Showmen’s Museum
Today, both Ward and the circus sideshow performers are gone. The graves of many carnies can be found if you take a stroll through the Showmen’s Rest Cemetery in Tampa. However, their spirit of showmanship is kept alive in the International Independent Showmen’s Museum.
Here, you can walk through 54,000 square feet of captivating carnival history. You’ll see one of the first Ferris Wheels, antique show wagons, authentic costumes, and of course, learn the stories of yesteryear’s circus sideshow performers.
Open on the weekends, a trip to Gibsonton’s Showmen’s Museum makes for a great day trip! You can experience the wonders of days gone by, brought back to life by amazing artifacts and hundreds of photographs. For one afternoon, you’ll be transported to a time before the internet, before cellphones, and even before there was an automobile in every garage. Wonders were found right before your eyes. Cat videos? How about an actual tiger. CGI explosions? Try a fire-breather or a sword swallower.
At the Showmen’s Museum, the carnie days are remembered with admiration, and the museum strives to keep this unique part of American history alive for future generations. With so many colorful, quirky exhibits, the museum is an affordable bit of fun for the whole family. (Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children with a school ID, and free for kiddos age 10 and under!)
Additionally, if you visit Gibsonton at the right time of year, you can catch the annual Trade Show (scheduled next for February 14-17th, 2023), where you can enjoy carnival rides, fair food, novelty items and plushies, and amazing exhibits. It’s about as close as you can get to a modern-day circus, and so much fun!
A Giant Boot??
A little off the beaten path, carnival fans will also want to stop by Gibsonton’s Al Tomaini Boot Monument!
Located on Highway 41, by the Alafia River, there is a replica of a size-25 boot atop an 8-foot, 4-inch tall granite pillar.6 These specifications represent the height and shoe size of Al Tomaini, the Giant, who ran The Giant’s Fishing Camp & Restaurant. Not only was Tomaini a physical giant, but he was a giant in the community as well, having held the position of fire chief and president of the Chamber of Commerce.
The boot “not only stands as a memorial but a reminder of the couple’s love for each other and their work in the community that still lives on today.”7
Have you been to Gibsonton? Tell us about your visit to the Showmen’s Museum in the comments below, and may the show go ever on!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
Recommended Gear for this Adventure
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
