Jumbo was an African Bush elephant originally captured in East Africa and sold to the London Zoo before being purchased by P.T. Barnum in 1882.
Following the accident, Jumbo's skeleton was donated to the American Museum of Natural History, while his heart was donated to Cornell University.
The statue was commissioned by the St. Thomas Railway City Tourism board specifically to reclaim the town's association with the historic event.
Jumbo's name became synonymous with 'large' in the English language, cementing his cultural legacy.
The monument is located on Talbot Street, which was a segment of the original Great Western Railway line.
The Jumbo the Elephant Memorial commemorates the world's most famous circus elephant, who was killed by a locomotive in St. Thomas on September 15, 1885. The monument features a life-sized statue of Jumbo, constructed of concrete and steel, standing on the site where the fatal accident occurred. The sculpture stands 17 feet high and weighs approximately 38 tons, reflecting the dimensions of the real animal. It was erected in 1985 to mark the centennial of his death. The site is situated in a park setting that serves as a tribute to the town's history as a major railway hub. Visitors can access interpretive signage that explains the P.T. Barnum circus connection and the incident's impact on 19th-century animal welfare history.
Stand directly in front of the statue's tusks to capture the scale of the elephant's head.
Bring a camera for a low-angle shot to capture the true scale of the statue compared to a person.
Combine your visit with a walk through the nearby downtown St. Thomas area to see historic railway architecture.
Check the surrounding park signage for additional historical context about the St. Thomas rail yards.
Do not attempt to climb on the statue as it is a historical monument and climbing may cause damage or personal injury.
