Way back when: Howes’ Great London Circus

Courtesy of The Canton-Madison County Historical Society

The days before the holidays often hold a magic of their own. The anticipation, the preparation, and the traveling - these moments are heightened by the sense of something special on the horizon.

A century-and-a-half ago, that period of excitement included the Largest Show Upon Earth: Howes’ Great London Circus, which visited ‘Canton, Canton, Canton’ on Monday, November 22, 1875. The ONLY First-Class BIG SHOW Ever South!!

The show’s arrival was nothing short of a spectacle. Billed as ‘100 times more grand’ and boasting a staggering $1.5 million capital investment, the circus promised wonders from every corner of the globe. Audiences marveled at Howes’ Great London Circus and Grecian Hippodrome, Sanger’s English Menagerie with its thirty cages and dens of wild animals, extraordinary acrobatic pyramids from the renowned Iroquois Indian Troupe, and dazzling equestrian performances.

The show featured exotic beasts, African lion acts, a magnificent wardrobe display, trained animal exhibitions, and a full menagerie transported exclusively by railroad.

For one remarkable day, Canton was home to a world of marvels—10,000 wonders of earth, sea, and sky—wrapped in music, color, and spectacle. It was the kind of excitement that lit up the season. 

Today, the Canton Square glows from Thanksgiving through Christmas, keeping that holiday magic ready whenever you are.