This Sleepy Midwest Town Is the 'Circus Capital of the World'-With Aerial Acrobats and a 100-year-old Big-top History

"Peru, Indiana, earned its title way back in the late 1800s when several major traveling circuses, including the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and the American Circus Corporation, made the town their winter headquarters. While the professional circus operations eventually moved on, Peru's big top legacy stuck around, and the town has been home to the Peru Amateur Circus since 1960."

"But there's much more to see here than just circus nostalgia. Peru sits along the Mississinewa River in north-central Indiana, and has antique shopping, farm experiences, and outdoor recreation worth checking out any time of year. For example, you could browse vintage finds at a labyrinth-like mercantile, pet woolly alpacas, bike along a 40-mile rail trail, and then end the day by tasting local wines in Peru's charming downtown."

"The Circus City Museum offers the most comprehensive look at Peru's big-top history. The museum is packed with photographs, miniatures, costumes, and displays from over a century of circus tradition. Admission is donation-based, and it's an easy stop if you're curious about how this small Midwestern town became synonymous with the greatest show on earth and how they won a Guinness World record."

Peru, Indiana earned the nickname "Circus Capital of the World" after several major traveling circuses made the town their winter headquarters in the late 1800s. The town retained a strong big-top legacy and has been home to the Peru Amateur Circus since 1960. The Circus City Museum presents photographs, miniatures, costumes, and displays spanning over a century of circus tradition, with donation-based admission. The annual nine-day Circus City Festival in the third week of July showcases roughly 200 performers ages 7 to 21. Peru also offers riverfront recreation, antique shopping, farm experiences, alpaca interactions, a 40-mile rail trail, and local wines in downtown.

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