Question 1

True or false: Barnum's museum featured a 'mermaid' that was a real preserved specimen.

Accepted Answer

False. The 'Feejee Mermaid' was a fake—a monkey torso sewn to a fish tail—but Barnum exhibited it as a curiosity.

Question 2

True or false: Barnum bought the elephant Jumbo from the London Zoo for a record price.

Accepted Answer

True. He purchased Jumbo in 1882 for $10,000, sparking outrage in Britain but massive publicity for his circus.

Question 3

True or false: Barnum famously said, 'There's a sucker born every minute.'

Accepted Answer

False. This quote is often misattributed to Barnum; it likely originated from a rival showman or a circus con artist.

Question 4

True or false: Barnum invented the three-ring circus format.

Accepted Answer

False. The three-ring circus was popularized by his rival, James A. Bailey, after Barnum's death; Barnum used two rings.

Question 5

True or false: P.T. Barnum once served as a mayor of a Connecticut town.

Accepted Answer

True. Barnum was mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, from 1875 to 1876, focusing on water supply and harbor improvements.

Question 6

True or false: Barnum's first museum burned down in a fire caused by a gas explosion.

Accepted Answer

True. The American Museum in New York burned down in 1865, likely from a gas leak, but Barnum reopened quickly.

Question 7

True or false: Barnum was a strict teetotaler who never drank alcohol in his life.

Accepted Answer

False. Barnum was a moderate drinker and sometimes served wine; he wasn't a teetotaler despite promoting temperance later.

Question 8

True or false: Barnum was a founding member of the Republican Party.

Accepted Answer

True. He helped establish the Republican Party in Connecticut and later served in the state legislature as a Republican.

P.T. Barnum Trivia Questions