On this day in 1835, showman P.T. Barnum began his first US tour. His dubious main attraction was a former slave woman named Joice Heth, whom Barnum purported to be the 160 year old nanny of George Washington. After a year of working 10-12 hour days, Heth died. Barnum capitalized on her death by hosting a public autopsy in New York, charging .50 cents admission.
