“Ringling Brothers Circus Fire” (2000)
Muralist: Mark Ebersole
Location: 300 Block of 2nd Avenue (just South of the Shoppes at Grandon Plaza)
On April 12, 1922, Sterling was preparing for a major event: the Ringling Brothers Circus. But just five minutes before the doors were to open, blazing shingles from the nearby Martin Barn ignited the big tent. With an estimated 25,000 people gathered on the grounds, what should have been a day of spectacle turned into a scene of chaos and loss.
This mural preserves one of Sterling’s most dramatic public events. It reminds visitors that history is not only made through progress and celebration, but also through the unforgettable moments that shock a community and stay in its memory for generations.
