Peru, County seat in Miami County, Indiana
Peru is a city in Miami County, Indiana, where the Wabash River divides the community into two distinct sections along its banks. The downtown area contains blocks of local shops and historic buildings that reflect its development over time.
The settlement began as a trading post in the early 1800s and later developed into a center for circus companies that established winter quarters here. A major flood in 1913 destroyed factories and forced the community to rebuild its economy afterward.
The circus heritage shapes how the community sees itself, with the Circus Hall of Fame preserving the legacy of traveling shows that once made this place home to performers and animal acts. Walking through town, you sense how deeply this tradition runs through the local identity.
The city is walkable, with most attractions located in or near downtown where you can move around on foot easily. Spring through fall offers the best conditions for walking and exploring, as weather is mild and the community hosts more events.
A local circus school trains young people ages 7 through 21 in acrobatics and performance skills, keeping alive the training methods that shaped generations of performers. This operating school is uncommon, as most such institutions have closed elsewhere.
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International Circus Hall of Fame
4.1 km
Terrell Jacobs Circus Winter Quarters
10.3 km
James Omar Cole House
506 m
Westleigh Farms
5.9 km
Miami County Courthouse
385 m
Peru High School Historic District
598 m
Shirk-Edwards House
852 m
Circus City Festival Museum
342 mCliffs of the Seven Double Pillars
7.3 kmTurtle Sundae
1.1 kmScenic viewpoint
1.3 kmPeru Circus Center Arena
365 mAmphitheater
1.5 kmIzaak Walton League (Peru)
2.3 kmRock Hollow Golf Course
4.1 kmYellow Chair
8.8 kmMural, Work of art
1.6 kmScenic viewpoint
1.2 kmOle Olson Memorial Theatre
785 mScenic viewpoint
2.6 kmNorth American TB-25N Mitchell
11.1 kmGrumman C-1A Trader
11.1 kmDouglas C-47D Skytrain
11.1 kmFairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar
11.1 kmBoeing KC-97L Stratofreighter
11.1 kmGeneral Motors F-84K Thunderstreak
11.1 kmCessna U-3A
11.1 kmCannon
7.4 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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