Holyoke, Massachusetts: Dead Frog Circus

A diorama of dozens of dead frogs frozen in frolic under an amphian-size Big Top, created in 1927 by fun-loving naturalist Burlington Schurr. It had been put in storage, but the public demanded its return!

Wistariahurst Museum

Address:: 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA
Directions:: In the Carriage House Visitors' Center outside the Wistariahurst Museum. On the west side of Beech St./US Hwy 202 just south of Cabot St.
Hours:: Sa-Su noon - 4 pm. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 413-322-5660
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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Dead Frog Circus

This exhibit also features dead frogs riding an endangered spotted turtle. Now there is a "no photography" sign up. No charge to enter the carriage house/gift shop, so you don't have to pay to go on the whole tour of the grounds. Just visited and the woman working there said there is another exhibit of dead frogs "banking" that they have in storage that they might bring out in the future.

[hmulone, 08/25/2012]

Makes you wonder how many other dead frog dioramas are out there, languishing in hypersleep.

Dead frog tightrope walker.

Dead Frog Circus

This was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

[Kristi, 04/04/2011]

Aye, the romance of the Dead Frog Circus.

Dead Frog Circus.

Dead Frog Circus

Holyoke's Frog Circus. It's in the Carriage House at the Wistariahurst Museum. It's basically a circus created with taxidermied frogs, and rats, some of the rats being used as horses.

[Andrea, 06/08/2010]

Created from scores of stuffed creatures in 1927 and displayed until 1990, the current museum finally knuckled under to popular sentiment and put the Frog Circus back on display, in the carriage house visitors' center.