Images of America - Baraboo

Baraboo, a community as unique as its name, had the same beginnings as many other southern Wisconsin cities-but its development throughout the 19th century set it apart. Starting in 1839, several dams were built along the Baraboo River rapids and a typical mill town formed, Baraboo's population began to rise when it became the county seat in 1846. With the arrival of the railroad in 1871, the village doubled in size within a decade. The railroad also brought exposure to the nearby natural beauty of Devil's Lake, increasing tourism significantly, Baraboo's greatest claim to fame began when the Ringling Brothers established a circus there in 1884. America's largest circus enterprise, Ringling Brothers made Baraboo their winter home every year until 1918. The Sauk County Historical Society was founded in 1905 to collect and share the area's history. Nearly one hundred years later,the society boasts the largest collection of photographs and data pertaining to Sauk County's history. In this volume, over two hundred photographs capture the look and feel of Baraboo during it's first 80 years, illustrating its small town charm and its unique natural and historical features. The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today.