The birthplace of Shakespeare, if nothing else, escaped fate prepared by the entranced P.T. Barnum, who in the 1940s had the idea of sending it to the United States, mounting it on wheels and sending it in perpetual tour for the country - perspective so alarming that in Great Britain it hastened to raise funds to save it and transform it into a museum and sanctuary.
Shakespeare's birthplace nearly faced a peculiar fate in the 1940s when P.T. Barnum proposed to transport it to the United States on a traveling tour. This plan alarmed many in Britain, who saw it as a threat to the integrity and heritage of the renowned playwright's origins. The outcry led to a swift response to preserve the site.
Consequently, efforts were initiated to raise funds to protect Shakespeare's birthplace and transform it into a dedicated museum and sanctuary. This move ensured that the location remained a testament to Shakespeare's legacy rather than a mere attraction for entertainment.