Barnum's Circus Parade, Canal Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1884

Barnum's circus procession moves along Canal Street in Grand Rapids, watched by dense crowds lining both sides of the roadway. Camel teams and wheeled vehicles follow the street rails past a substantial corner building with striped window awnings and American flags. Horse-drawn carriages and baggage wagons occupy the foreground, while several spectators have climbed the utility poles for a better view.

A banner stretched across the street names “GROVER CLEVELAND” for president and “THOS. A. HENDRICKS” for vice president. Their 1884 presidential ticket supports the clearly pencilled “1884” on the reverse. The year is therefore supported by both the photographed scene and the annotation; the precise day of the parade is not stated.

The reverse is headed “GRAND RAPIDS VIEWS.” and bears the title “BARNUM IN CANAL STREET.—INSTANTANEOUS.” Its imprint directs requests for copies to Schuyler C. Baldwin in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Another legible pencil inscription reads “Down town Grand Rapids”; a smaller notation at the lower right is less certain. The printed street title and series heading establish the location independently of the handwriting.

The two photographic images are mounted on orange-faced card with a pink-paper reverse. Surface-paper losses expose the card at the mount corners. The photographs are clean and retain strong detail; otherwise sound.