New exhibit in St. Thomas explores legacy of global icon — Jumbo the elephant

He was once known as the most famous elephant in the world and more than a century after his death, Jumbo the elephant's legacy still lives on.

It's the subject of the new Jumbomania exhibit at the Elgin County Heritage Centre in St. Thomas, Ont., which explores Jumbo's life, how he became a global icon that's still well-known today, and the mysterious circumstances leading to his death 140 years ago.

"Even after his death, he continued to be a celebrity, so the exhibit is not just about Jumbo's life but also to celebrate his legacy," Madeleine Howard, the museum's curator, told CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive.

"Even if people don't necessarily know Jumbo the great African elephant, they still know his name, so that's what our exhibit is highlighting — he's everywhere and he's not going anywhere anytime soon."

Jumbo was known for his large stature, which gained lots of attention and made him the star of "The Greatest Show on Earth" circus hosted by showman and Connecticut politician P.T. Barnum. The show is said to have brought in the largest crowds in the circus' history.

The elephant's life came to an end when he was fatally struck by a train during a Canadian stop in St. Thomas in 1885, but his journey began in Africa where he lived in his early years before he was captured and sold to the British London Zoo in the 1860s.

Jumbo was the first known elephant to be brought to Europe alive and gave rides to thousands of children. Many people would come to see him while visiting the zoo but Jumbo's life changed in 1882 when he was purchased by Barnum, Korbiel said.

That sale was the start of what became Jumbomania. The elephant quickly rose to fame as his name and photo began appearing on advertisements, newspapers, postcards, cigar boxes, shoelaces and other memorabilia, but spectators had a special bond with him, said Howard.

"He was also so gentle and careful with all the people around him, the children and anybody who was riding on his back, and I think people could see how unique and special he was," she said.

The exhibit features unique memorabilia, along with original photographs and news articles from the time. It also dives into the myriad of conspiracies surrounding what led to Jumbo's death and whether he was in fact the largest elephant in the world.

After his death, Jumbo's hide was stuffed and his skeleton was mounted so he could travel with Barnum as two jumbos, according to Howard. She said Barnum had the elephant's hide stretched and elongated to make him appear taller, and was never displayed with the skeleton.

Jumbo remains embedded into the present-day St. Thomas community which has a life-size statue of the elephant it built in 1985, for his 100th death anniversary.

The team behind the exhibit was also surprised to learn new lesser-known facts about Jumbo and they're looking forward to sharing that with the public, they said.

"One of my favourite pieces is a circus supplement published by P.T. Barnum and it actually advertises Jumbo's last show on September 15, 1885, which is one of the last times that people were able to see him before he toured as the double Jumbo, so it's definitely something for everybody to see," said Howard.

"I would do some digging and a few hours later, I'm somewhere else and I'd discover this brand new photo I'd never seen before, it's just absolutely breathtaking but the best part about that is I get to share that discovery with everybody," Korbiel added.

The exhibit is on display until March 2026.