MAP AND ROOM GUIDE
1 SOLARIUM: Originally an open porch, the solarium was a convenient retreat from the swimming pool.
2 RECEPTION ROOM: This room served as both a formal business space and an extension of the ballroom when the Ringlings entertained.
3 ENTRANCE FOYER: This was the formal entry of the house. John and Mable welcomed movie stars, politicians, circus impresarios, friends, and family, who kept the house buzzing with activity. John and Mable purchased much of the furniture at auction houses in New York.
4 DINING ROOM: The ceiling looks like handcarved wood but is actually molded plaster with decorative painting executed by the artist, Robert Webb, Jr. The table includes 20 leaves that allow its expansion up to 38.5 feet long in order to accommodate more guests for formal dining.
5 TAP ROOM: Even though Prohibition was in full swing, the Ringlings’ guests enjoyed a drink here before moving into the dining room for dinner.
6 BALLROOM: This room was made for dancing; if you have any doubt, look up! The focal point of the ballroom is its coffered ceiling inset with paintings fancifully depicting dancing couples from cultures around the world by the artist, Willy Pogány (1882–1955). Imagine slinking across the floor while doing the tango, mirroring the couple in the southwest corner.
7 THE COURT: The court was the heart of the home. The 1892 Steinway piano and the Aeolian organ provided musical entertainment for countless social events. The pecky cypress ceiling was painted by the artist, Robert Webb, Jr. (1897–1986).
8 BREAKFAST ROOM: This room was used for informal dining. Envision yourself eating breakfast while looking out of the colorful glass windows and watching the sunshine reflect off the water.
9 VALET’S ROOM AND PANTRY: The Ringlings employed a staff of seven, including a butler, chauffeur, cooks, and housekeepers. The spaces in the service wing were dedicated to the preparation of meals. In addition to storage for the Ringling’s china and silver, the pantry served as a space for plating food before serving dishes in the dining room.
10 KITCHEN: The cook would have prepared meals on both the electric and gas stoves, while perishable food was stored in the many electric refrigerators here and in the pantry.
11 STAFF QUARTERS: The modern exit of Ca’ d’Zan is located in what used to be the staff’s dining room. The staff’s sleeping quarters were located up the spiral staircase on the second floor.
12 TERRACE: Upon exiting Ca’ d’Zan, do not forget to stop and enjoy the beautiful terrace overlooking the bay. John Ringling originally moored his 125 ft. yacht, the Zalophus, off of this terrace.
Welcome to Ca’ d’Zan —meaning
“House of John” in Venetian dialect—the winter residence of John and Mable Ringling. This guide will take you through the first floor of the mansion, offering a sense of what it was like to be a guest of the couple.
Building on his success as one of the five brothers who created the Ringling Bros. Circus, John (1866–1936) invested in oil, ranching, railroads, and real estate, becoming one of the richest men in America. John believed Sarasota would become a world-class tourist destination. He and Mable (1875–1929) decided to build a new home to represent their grand vision for the area. The couple hired Dwight James Baum (1886–1939), an acclaimed New York architect, to create their mansion in the Venetian Gothic style. Construction began in 1924 and was completed at the end of 1926. The residence was the setting for lavish parties for the Ringlings’ friends, family, and business associates.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Interested to learn who painted the Ballroom ceiling? Curious to know where the Ringlings stored their wine during Prohibition? Would you like to see where John and Mable slept?
CA’ D’ZAN EXPERIENCE
This engaging guided tour explores all five floors of Ca’ d’Zan and culminates with the panoramic views atop the Belvedere Tower. Get an up-close look at the design elements of this Mediterranean Revival-style mansion. and learn more about its famous residents, John and Mable Ringling.
This small group tour is offered daily and limited to 8 participants. Belvedere Tower access is weather permitting. This ticket includes the guided tour of Ca’ d’Zan—and access to the Bayfront Gardens.
$60 | $25 for Members
Please note: This tour is one hour long and participants must climb over 85 steps. There is no elevator or seating available.
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN THE MUSEUM STORE
Ronald R. McCarty, Ca’ d’Zan—A Pictorial Guide (Sarasota, FL: The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 2018).
David C. Weeks, Ringling: The Florida Years, 1911–1936 (Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 1993).
The Ringlings had no children; when John died in 1936, he left the mansion and art museum to the people of Florida.
