International Clown Hall of Fame & Research Center — Attraction in Baraboo

We have been all over this country and seen many a museums, and not one has been this welcoming, compassionate, and detailed. It exudes love and fun on a level that was worth the 11 hour drive and more.

First of all it's nestled in this small town of Baraboo Wisconsin, a place that we thought only existed in oil paintings. Every store and shop we went to each person was friendly, welcoming and went out of their way to make us not feel like tourists. I even saw a pair of bicycles just parked on the sidewalk with no lock or anything, a rare site in the city where we are from.

We showed up and were greeted by Toto Johnson, a former Ringling clown, who not only was a treasure trove of knowledge, but a beacon of fun and lifelong passion for a craft that is a thousand years old. He made us feel like distant relatives catching up, even though we had just met! That was worth more than the price of admission alone.

Sometimes museums are business ventures, a place signed on by a city to generate revenue and public interest about the area, this felt so far from that. Every artifact was unique and had hours of story worth telling. Some of these things belong in the Smithsonian but here they are! This felt like a mecca for anyone and everyone who likes clowning or circus history in general, and is a must see on any road trip that remotely goes near Wisconsin, I would even say top 100 places to visit in the US in general.

It is also worth noting they have special membership packages that help the museum which give you unique perks and helps keep the doors open, this is a business done purely out of love, so please donate and help keep it alive for many years to...

This museum is seriously awesome! Greg is a clown expert—literally! We bombarded him with questions, and he knew everything. We even got to see an authentic Bozo the Clown costume and I got to hold one of Ronald McDonald’s shoes—both were a total (and thrilling) highlight for me. We learned all about different clowns, but don’t bother asking to squeeze into the mini car — Greg’s not going to let you. Honestly, we all need a Greg in our lives — fun, knowledgeable, and just a little clown-tastic! The only thing missing was a shrine to Swifties. We are the biggest modern clown...

My friends and I visited during the off season and were able to make an appointment with Greg very easily. The admission was very affordable and was worth every penny. The displays are colorful, engaging, and loaded with so much history. The art, costumes, and documentation of clowning in America was top notch, and was beautifully presented by Greg, an actual professional clown with an insider's scope of the career and philosophy behind clowning. He was engaging, informative, and just a great person to meet. I love that he rotates the collection, too, so a return...