Cole Bros Circus 1944 Photo Cowgirl Dot Lewis Grand Island Nebraska 4.5 x 3

This 1944 photograph shows cowgirl performer Dot Lewis riding horseback with the Cole Bros Circus during a stop in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Cole Bros Circus operated as one of the prominent American traveling circuses of the mid-twentieth century, touring across towns and fairgrounds throughout the United States. Performers often included skilled equestrians whose riding acts blended rodeo-style horsemanship with circus presentation. During the 1940s these shows moved primarily by truck convoy, bringing tents, livestock, wagons, and performers into temporary showgrounds in communities across the country.

The photograph captures Dot Lewis mounted on a saddled horse within the circus grounds, positioned near a line of tethered horses and equipment tables beneath a canvas awning. Circus workers and additional animals appear in the background, suggesting preparations or downtime between performances. The reverse contains a handwritten note identifying the scene as Cole Bros Circus, dated July 27, 1944 in Grand Island, Nebraska, with the performer named as Dorothy Lewis. The photograph measures approximately 4.5 x 3 inches.

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