Jumbo the Elephant Statue and Ashes, Tufts University, P T Barnum, Medford, MA

Jumbo the Elephant Statue and Ashes, Tufts University, P T Barnum, Medford, MA

This life-size statue of Jumbo was unveiled outside Barnum Hall on the campus of Tufts University in April 2015. Jumbo, owned by P.T Barnum, a former trustee and benefactor, is Tufts University's official mascot, a male African elephant ,the largest elephant known at the time, 12 feet tall and weighing more than six tons. Barnum donated Jumbo's stuffed hide to Tufts College in 1889.  

In 1885, Jumbo was killed in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, hit by an oncoming freight train while supposedly, according to a Barnum legend, saved the midget General Tom thumb’s life by pushing him out of the way of the train.

After Jumbo’s death Barnum continued to tour with his skeleton and bones until he gave this to the Barnum Museum of Natural History in 1889 on Tufts campus. For the Tufts' athletic teams not only did he become their mascot but also their good luck charm. (Good luck if you tugged on his tail or put pennies on his trunk). In 1975 the Barnum Museum was destroyed by fire, including Jumbo. Fortunately they were able to save Jumbo’s ashes that now reside in the Athletic Department. Good luck still abounds as athletes  in need of a game boost just rub the top of the peanut butter jar that contains Jumbo.