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2021 Tour Season Starts March 3rd!

A close up section of the dining room.

📣 Our 2021 tour season opens this Wednesday, March 3rd so plan on venturing on a guided tour at one of the nation’s historical sites!

Immerse yourself: Step into the world of how AL. & Lou Ringling lived. We take you from room to room, where historical archives and artifacts are on display from the Ringling Family and the traveling Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus. 🎪 Over the past several years, areas of the Mansion have been, and will continue to be restored as part of preserving the Ringling history.

📷: This is a section of the dining room featuring restoration work by multiple artisans using an antique photograph as reference.

HOURS OF OPERATION 🕰
Our spring schedule is Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 4pm, matching the same days as the AL. Ringling Brewing Co. next door. No appointment necessary, simply come to the Broadway Street entrance during operating hours and wait for the next available tour. Guided tours occur every hour, on the hour, with the last tour starting at 3pm. The tour includes stops in both the mansion and the brewery.

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New Plaque Setting

See below for the inscription in the plaque.

For 35 years, this plaque has been displayed on a post in front of the AL. Ringling Mansion. We hired a local mason this year to construct a base to embed the plaque for a nicer setting. The stone bricks were sourced from the foundation of the carriage house that was built along with the Mansion in 1905.

As a side note, that carriage house was torn down in 1948 to construct a ballroom (later known as the Lou Ringling Ballroom) that was converted to the brewery taproom that it is today.

The plaque reads:

“The Al Ringling Home – This red-stone mansion was erected by Al and Lou Ringling in 1905. In its day it was the most spacious and beautiful home in Sauk County. After Al’s death Lou remained for several years then moved east, later to return to live in another house in Baraboo.
The Ringling’s sister Ida, and her husband Henry W. North and family then occupied this house. Their sons John and Henry managed the circus after the Ringling Bros. died.

Of the seven sons Al was the ‘circus genius’. At first Lou served as snake-charmer, later became an outstanding equestrian. Always she was the friend of every person traveling with the show.

AL. and Lou are buried in a mausoleum in Baraboo’s Walnut Hill Cemetery.

Erected by the Sauk County Historical Society. 1985.”

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Following the Wisconsin mask mandate (COVID-19)

Starting Saturday, August 1st, we will be requiring our guests who are taking the guided tours to wear a mask indoors to follow the Wisconsin statewide mask mandate due to COVID-19. If you have a medical condition or special circumstances that inhibit your breathing with a mask on, please let us or your tour guide know in advance so we can accommodate you.
We are back to holding daily guided tours from 11am – 4pm, every hour, on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3pm.
Thank you all for your understanding and cooperation!
AL. Ringling Mansion
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Re-opening for Guided Tours on Monday, May 25, 2020

Your presence has been greatly missed at the AL. Ringling Mansion, and we’re happy to announce that our doors will be open for guided tours on Monday, May 25th. Our times will be the same 11am – 4pm, every hour, on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3pm.

We are using the following guidelines for the safety of both our guests and our tour guide to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses:
Cash or credit cards are acceptable forms of payment, but credit cards would be most preferred at this time. Group tours are currently limited to eight people to allow for physical distancing. [August 1, 2020 Update: Masks are required to be worn by both staff and guests to due to the Wisconsin mask mandate.] Masks are welcome to be worn, but are not required to tour the mansion (with the exception of our tour guide who will be wearing a mask). We are increasing the frequency of cleaning/sanitizing our restroom, hand railings, door knobs, etc.

Please note that if you are having any symptoms of illness, we invite you to come again on other day. We hope that all of our guests can be patient and understanding as we adjust to our new “normal”. See you soon!

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Construction Progress for the Brewery

We began renovating the Lou Ringling Ballroom this past winter of 2019. What was once the ballroom floor is now known as the taproom floor. A few walls have been knocked down to make good use of the space, and new framework has been set up to map out new spaces such as restrooms and a new lobby.

We’ll be posting updates every week of construction progress on our social media accounts @alringlingbrewingco on Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter @ringlingbrewing so you can follow us on there!

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Guided tour season starts April 1st!

The AL. Ringling Mansion is currently getting polished up for the upcoming tour season. This is when we open our doors to host guided tours every hour on the hour from 11am to 4pm (last tour starts at 3pm). We have exciting new changes overall, including our preparation for the Mansion to host overnight stays in our guest bedrooms and the renovation of the Lou Ringling Ballroom to become the AL. Ringling Brewing Company, both brewery and pub.

© AL. Ringling Mansion | 623 Broadway Street, Baraboo, WI | 608-448-7455