This Is Barnum's first Mansion. On Iranistan Ave. in Bpt., CT. This was built in 1848 and cost about $150,000 to complete. This place was burned to the ground December 17, 1857. He Built two other mansions after this one.

In 1875, P. T. Barnum was elected mayor of Bpt. During P. T. Barnum term as mayor, a temperance man himself, warred vigorously against saloons. Also he advocated the employment of condemned prisoners to contribute to their own support; worked for a better water supply for the city and for better drainage; urged the selling of fruits and vegetables by weight instead of measure; battled the sale of adulterated food; reduced the city's gas bill by half and last but not least, recommended the inauguration of one or more "floating baths", for the "cleanliness" of the public. P. T. Barnum's official term as mayor ended April 3,1876.

Barnum in time when he was mayor suggested to make two parks, Washington and Seaside, and also the Mountain Grove Cemetery. He was successful. Barnum was especialy successful in securing Seaside Park in Bpt.

East Bridgeport was said to be P. T. Barnum's "pet" project. He wanted to remind everyone who past through the East Side that he had planned the district. So he named the streets after his family and friends. Some examples are Barnum Ave. (named after himself), Hallet Sreet (the maiden name of his first wife, Charity); and Caroline, Helen, and Pauline streets, named for three of his daughters. Noble Ave. is named for Barnum's land developer partner, William Noble. They even named a school after him, Barnum School, and of course, the Barnum Museum and the Barnum festival.

P. T. Barnum has done alot for Bridgeport. He even made a bridge on Stratford Ave. and just to make sure that the bridge was stable he had a dozen of elephants paraded across.

In his honor they mabe a statue and put it in Seaside Park.

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