The Jumbo Room is truly a community room in the Museum. It not only tells the story of Jumbo one of the entrenched stories of the community, but also the room and its artifacts have been entirely donated or loaned to the Museum by local residents. Jumbo was on tour with the Barnum and Bailey Circus when he came to St. Thomas in 1885. As one of the main attractions for the Circus, and because of his size, Jumbo had his own special car known as the Jumbo Palace Car. It was to this car that Jumbo's trainer Mr. Scott was leading him after the night performances. As Scott was leading him and another Elephant Tom Thumb to their respective train cars an unscheduled frieght train came down the track. Jumbo pushed both Tom Thumb and Mr. Scott off the track but could not himself avoid a fatal collision. This was the accident that resulted in Jumbo's death. The monument located across the street from the Museum was erected in 1985 on the 100th Anniversary of his death.
The Jumbo monument is located just beyond the side window of the room and is why the museum staff picked this room as the Jumbo Room. The 25th Anniversary of the monument's erection will be next year in 2010 and it will also mark 125 years since Jumbo's death in 1885. Few artifacts in the Jumbo Room are this old except for Hannibal, a 19th Century carousel horse. He came to us from the former Raven's Shoe Store on Talbot Street where he was a part of their Childrens Department for many years. He watches over the Jumbo Monument and Old Talbot street on a constant vigil, staring out the side window of the room.
There are many more pieces of Jumbo memorabilia to see in the Jumbo Room and we are always looking for more to be loaned or donated to the Museum. Please contact the Museum with information about your Jumbo artifacts.