
For decades the major department stores in New York City
have put on a spectacle within their street-level window and Bloomingdale's is
no exception.

P. T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum of Bridgeport, Connecticut,
was one of the greatest entertainment entrepreneurs in history. His traveling
shows, museums, and world-famous circus helped him amass a multi-million-dollar
fortune on his way to becoming personal friends with such iconic figures as
Abraham Lincoln, Queen Victoria of England, and Mark Twain.
Most of us know him because of the circus, but he was actually an incredibly important figure in American history. "The Atlantic" named P.T. Barnum to its list of 100 most influential figures in American history.
Most of us know him because of the circus, but he was actually an incredibly important figure in American history. "The Atlantic" named P.T. Barnum to its list of 100 most influential figures in American history.

Barnum wrote one of America’s first celebrity
autobiographies. In 1880, a century before Donald Trump’s The
Art of the Deal, Barnum pioneered the celebrity how-to-get-rich book, writing
The Art of Money-Getting.
“Money is in some respects like fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.” -he wrote. Barnum also said : "The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves".
“Money is in some respects like fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.” -he wrote. Barnum also said : "The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help themselves".

The six windows with over 7 million Swarovski crystals along Lexington Avenue glitter with scenes from the movie "The Greatest Showman," including strong men and snake charmers, plus interactive elements and songs from the film.