America's young and daring aerialists mastered the art of the trapeze soon after it was introduced to the United in the early 1850's. Among the best of the flying acts in the United States in the late 1800s-early 1900s were many famous artists who called Bloomington/Normal home. They lived, trained and developed new acts right here. They improved upon European developments, and created new and innovative acts, making Bloomington/Normal a major training center—the aerial artist capital of the world."