BARABOO — Not only is the circus coming to town, but it’ll be here all summer. For free.

Of course, a summerlong circus season is nothing new in Baraboo, home of Circus World Museum’s daily big top shows. But this summer, a free historical exhibit will be open daily to mark the 125th anniversary of the Ringling brothers launching their circus.

Exhibit curator Ralph Pierce hopes to evoke echoes of the knocking of circus wagon wheels and the piping of steam calliopes. He wants locals to appreciate living in a place where it’s not unusual to see elephants marching down the street.

“The goal is to keep that heritage alive,” Pierce said.

Recently, organizers held an open house at the exhibit, erected in an unoccupied storefront at 115 Third Ave. Dozens of circus fans perused historic banners, photographs and newspaper clippings. Local train enthusiasts contributed a model circus train, and Carol Hulterstrum added a collection of vintage performance costumes.

Items from private collections, especially those of Ralph and Joan Pierce, and Stephen and Dawnne Flint, make up much of the exhibit.

“You just pick up things here and there, scrounging, to keep the history alive,” Ralph Pierce said, noting that he’s looking to add to the collection. “We figure things will come out of the woodwork because of this.”

The exhibit will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Similar festivities were held 25 years ago to honor the local brothers who on May 19, 1884, put up their first circus tent at the corner of Broadway and Second Avenue. It would go on to become known as “The Greatest Show On Earth,” and the five sons of a Baraboo harness maker became international celebrities. Pierce said the Friends of Circus World Museum and the Gollmar-Moeller-Ringling Tent of the Circus Fans of America pushed to commemorate the anniversary.

“It’s been another 25 years, so we thought we should do something,” he said.

The exhibit has many supporters. Baraboo National Bank donated the space. WRPQ broadcast grand opening festivities on radio and television. The Sauk County UW-Extension Arts and Culture Committee came through with a $4,000 grant for exhibit construction costs. The Wisconsin Arts Board also gave a grant.

WRPQ president Jeff Smith said he was eager to support this effort to celebrate local circus history and bring visitors downtown all summer.

“I thought it was a very good thing to have in this community,” Smith said.

Visitors marveled at the collection of memorabilia and artifacts.

“They’re seeing things that are sparking their interest that they haven’t seen before,” Pierce said.