Had no idea about the history of Circuses wintering in Peru. Outstanding collection of memorabilia…read moreand artifacts. It's great that some of the original buildings have survived. As a volunteer at a Museum where restoration is constantly occurring, I appreciate the work that these volunteers are doing. Of course there are pieces that are not yet restored, but they are always working on them and most importantly, they are saved. Doesn't matter if they get restored in 5 or 10 or 50 years. If it wasn't for the effort of the volunteers, these pieces would be lost to history forever. THANK YOU for that!!! For our visit, the regular tour guide was away, so we had her husband take us on the tour. He had mobility issues, but soldiered through to give us the full experience. We greatly appreciate your dedication to your visitors!! HINT: The office in front is not where you check in. Drive or walk down the gravel road just before the office - that's where the Gift Shop/Entrance is.

When you drive into Peru, (be it from Indy or Chicago or...Toledo?) don't think much about where…read moreyou're going or what in the world it could look like...because inevitably...you'll think big circus tent, lions, tigers, a man roaming the perimeter on a unicycle. In reality though...a man might be roaming the perimeter...so beware. It's more haunted circus than circus museum or Hall of Fame. BUT, Wait, Wait, Wait! You're getting the wrong idea...still go! Yes, doesn't a haunted circus call for more adventure and less asking yourself "why did I go to Peru?" once leaving than would a traditional Circus Hall of Fame. C'mon. It's like having the circus off-season in Florida in your Indiana back yard! Speaking of off-season...when I was there in August...a man from Texas was passing through (apparently "working the State Fair circuit" which is glorious to hear in person) and this Texan brought along Tigers and Elephants. Really. There they were...elephants in the Hoosier farmlands...roaming amongst antique circus wagons (as seen in Big Fish, which the owner won't let you forget). In a strange way...if someone asked where to go to get the real Indiana, the Indiana I would want people to know about: the Circus Museum & Hall of Fame is on the list. This comes from a kid who didn't like the circus and a man who doesn't like the circus (you know...taser-ing animals...caging animals...laughing at animals...) The folks that run the place aren't interested in you being there. Or it seems that way...so be prepared to twist their arm to figure out what's going on...but really, they don't have answers. What they do have though...is a key to their Gift Shop that's closed and grown-over. Ask them to open it and buy a tee shirt -- they're beautiful.

The Miami County Historical Society has turned the historic former Senger Dry Goods building into a…read morelocal history museum. The area is rich in history, most notably the birthplace of Cole Porter and the winter home to a number of circuses in the early 1900's. The first floor of the three story museum holds furniture and a Cadillac once owned by Porter. Local artifacts, Mastodon fossil bones, and other area antiques are also on display. Mock local storefronts on the second floor hold local items and tell the story of early life in Peru. The museum has done a remarkable job of preserving historical items and telling their stories. Circus memorabilia is arranged on the third floor with stories about the various troops, people and animals. I liked the use of the former department store to hold local history. The walls seemed to welcome visitors and tell stories. The Museum requests a $5 donation but changes no admission fee. The clerk is friendly and describes the contents. A small gift shop is available near the entrance. An elevator is available to move from floor to floor. Plan 2 hours for a visit. The museum is a must visit for those interested in local history.

Wonderful museum. There is a lot to see. There are three floors, which you can take an elevator.read more

I absolutely loved my trip to the Seiberling at Christmas! I found it to be one of my favorite…read moreChristmas experiences so far. Every square inch is decorated. There are 3 floors to this historic mansion to explore for only $10. The architecture is amazing. I got a lot of pictures here. It was worth the hour drive to Kokomo from Indy. Staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful as well.

Kokomo, Indiana's Seiberling Mansion is a rather sublime sight to see during the holiday season…read more Serving as home for the Howard County Historical Society, the Seiberling Mansion was completed in 1891 and owned by Monroe Seiberling. Seiberling was an industrialist and entrepreneur who arrived in Kokomo alongside the late 19th century gas boom. He became wealthy, built several factories in the area, and followed all this up by building a rather remarkable mansion. Subsequent owners included Orange Darby, Rev. William Parr (namesake for Parr Methodist Church), real estate developer Franklin Miller, and George Kingston. Kingston was an inventor who invented the carburetor used in Henry Ford's Model T. When Kingston passed away in 1946, Indiana University bought the home and used it as the home of IU-Kokomo until 1964. For several years, the mansion remained empty. Finally, Howard County began looking for a way to move the county museum out of the courthouse. This ended up being a perfect arrangement and IU signed a long-term agreement to turn over the property for use as a museum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972, the Seiberling Mansion has both a Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival style. The house has three stories - eight rooms on the first floor, seven on the second floor, and a grand ballroom on the third floor. Parking is free. The parking lot entrance is behind the museum off West Walnut street. The front door is the main entrance, though the accessible entrance is at the rear of the house. It's important to note that only the first floor is actually accessible (there's no elevator), though there is a virtual video available on the first floor for the second and third floors. There are public restrooms on the first and second floors, though it should also be noted these are not wheelchair accessible. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 1-4pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for K-12, and free for under age 5. The museum is a Blue Star Museum - this means active military and family members get in free from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They do have periods when they close - so checking their website is always a good idea just to be sure. The Seiberling Mansion can be rented for a maximum of 25 people. Rental rates on the website. The adjacent Elliott House is also available. While I always lament not having full access to places, with historic locations it's understandable and expected that access isn't going to be perfect. This is beautiful to see, though I'm not sure I can give it a full thumbs up for those with mobility issues since entry is $10 and you really only get to access one of three floors. That said, the virtual tour is pretty cool and the building itself is wonderful.

If you want to know anything about James Dean, please stop at the James Dean Gallery! The owners…read moreare there to answer questions and are very helpful. They have a vintage shop in back of the Gallery that has shirts that a make on site. The people that own the Gallery are very friendly, and very easy to talk to. They make you feel very welcome.

Wonderful place to visit! A lot of information. A lot to see and they even have a small vintage…read morestore in the back of the gallery home.

As an activist who is fairly well known around Indiana, I've often had the opportunity to really…read moreget to know Indiana's communities. One of my favorites is Peru, Indiana, a city of a little over 11,000 that has always been warm and hospitable to me and incredibly proactive in supporting its residents with disabilities. For years, Peru was the circus capital of the United States and was the winter headquarters for several famous circuses. While the circus's presence in Peru has slowed down, the city remains a strong presence, both literally and nostalgically, for anyone involved in or having a love of circuses. The International Circus Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame honoring many of the icons of the circus industry. It is located on the grounds of the former Wallace Circus and American Circus Corporation Winter Headquarters. These grounds are also a National Historic Landmark. Benjamin Wallace purchased the land in 1891 and its use as a headquarters for circuses flourished until 1944. In 1921, American Circus Corporation bought it all from Wallace and in 1929 American Circus was sold to John Ringling. You should know the name John Ringling. After 1944, the property reverted to agricultural use and, sadly, many of the buildings were altered or even destroyed. The circus industry was declining. Ringling Brothers had established their winter headquarters in Florida and the original incarnation of the International Circus Hall of Fame opened in Sarasota in 1956. It attracted 80,000 visitors annually even into the late 70s, though it became unprofitable and was closed in 1980. In 1981, a group of circus devotees from Peru - community leaders, businesses, etc. - learned of the closure and the availability of many of the Hall of Fame's items. They all united together and, essentially, the community bought the hall of fame and moved it to Peru where it remains to this day. Since acquiring the hall of fame, Peru's Hall of Fame has continued to grow including 16 historical wagons reconstructed in the Hall of Fame's wagon shop and the Peru Wagon Works Shop. Most years, the Hall of Fame inducts new members including familiar names like the Wallendas, John Ringling, Annie Oakley, Emmett Kelly, P.T. Barnum, and dozens of others. The Hall of Fame is over 9 acres of land and it's not uncommon to see displays around the community different times of the year. They have a gift shop that is also available online. The museum is filled with circus artifacts, costumes, circus posters, heralds, photographs, films, route cards, route books, and numerous circus wagons. Five of the original buildings house all of this and all five buildings are Historic Landmarks. The Hall of Fame also houses the Circus Model Builder's Museum and its Hall of Fame. Entry into the museum is affordable - $5 for adults; $2.50 for under 12; and free for military (Peru does have a military base). You can even camp at the hall of fame right on the Mississinewa River. Camping with electricity is only $25 a night; $12.50 for "primitive" camping. There is so much to love here and so much more to say but, alas, reviews have a word limit and I'd rather you experience the place for yourself. While the pandemic still influences things, they have a work week coming up in September and two festivals are on the books for 2022!

We stopped here on way back home. It is okay for stop through but not really destination…read morechildren's museum. It opened pretty late at 11am on Sunday but timing was perfect for us. It is next to church so don't get confused when you follow GPS directions. Sign of the building is behind the building which can be tricky to find. First floor is science exhibits and second floor is toddler floor. We spent almost an hour and it was worth it since we have ASTC membership for free admission.

We stopped off here as a break in a long roadtrip for our 2 year old. It's about 5 miles off of…read moreI-65, but well worth the stop! He had so much fun and rocketed from one station to the other. Everything is hands on, and there is such a diversity of activities, from looking at the live animals (snakes, bearded dragon, turtles), to playing in a small kitchen, drawing, building with Legos or large foam blocks, and climbing into then sliding down a tiny rocket. The staff were all so friendly, nice, and helpful, and they went out of our way to make our experiences great! I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who is traveling on I-65 through Indiana and needs a break for a little one!

Holy cow this place is cool. It's a house now divided into 4 suites. We stayed upstairs in the Cole…read morePorter Suite where the music man was born & raised. Don't know who Cole Porter is??never fear, the Miami Museum is a short walk and $3 suggested donation away and they can school u on all things Cole. Our suite was roomy and quiet and filled with antiques & memorabilia. And all the comforts of home--air, kitchenette w microwave & fridge, and a smart TV with Amazon Prime. I recommend Just a short walk to Aroma--try the Lavender Lattee(Oye) ! And the adjacent bakery! Gabriel's has amazing breakfast and Dillinger's was good for dinner. Very responsive folks running it clued us into how to get in the suite. We'll be back !

We spent two nights at the Cole Porter Inn as a little getaway for antiquing and relaxation. We…read morestayed in the Cole Porter Suite, and it was beautiful! Very spacious with lovely furniture and decor. It's probably the antique-est of the three suites in the house. The Cole Porter Suite has a living room, a little kitchenette, a queen bed in the main area, a second bedroom with a double bed, a bathroom, and a sunroom (I've included pictures). The only thing that was a pinch awkward was the hand shower in the bathtub (and no shower curtain). Some antique charm that was definitely a new experience for us, but we figured it out! We were able to contact the proprietor as soon as we arrived, and he instructed us how to get to our room. We could come and go as we pleased. The only down side was feeling a little distant from him should we need things like extra towels, but he was very nice, and I'm sure he would have come running if we'd had a need. No breakfast is included with your stay at the inn, but the kitchenette has a sink, microwave, coffee maker, and coffee, or Peru has a few local breakfast places that will fit the bill (we liked Aroma downtown for coffee and donuts, or go down U.S. 31 about 15 minutes to Dutch Cafe for a hearty breakfast). The inn was also an easy walk to a few local restaurants for dinner, of which I recommend Club 14 and Voodoo Public House. The neighborhood is filled with historic homes of all shapes and sizes, so even just a walk (or drive!) drive around the neighborhoods in that vicinity was great entertainment. We didn't use the TV while we were there, so I guess my only other complaint would be the Wi-Fi. It's free, which is great, but we barely had a signal, so the router must be pretty far from our upstairs room. So if you need to get work done or have amazing internet access, you won't really get it here (at least not upstairs). But if you want a beautiful place to relax and a home base to check out what Northern Indiana has to offer, this is a great one!

What a fun experience! I was able to see the amateur circus, which is composed of all-ages showing…read moreoff their routines. This ranges from older teenagers on the high wire to 4-year-olds doing dance routines. The harnesses and protective equipment are all very prominent, so you can feel assured that the kids are safe. My only issue is the bleachers get so uncomfortable after 2 hours.

Went a couple hours out of our way to visit the circus museum.. one of the members in our party…read morereally needed a restroom.. they were behind closed locked doors.. so we waited in lobby as the only person there chatted on the phone.. 15 mins into our wait we polite asked may we please use restroom.. she held up a finger like just another moment.. 10 minutes later still on the phone we walked out .. the lady in your front office needs to learn about a hold button and not make people wait 25 minutes..

19 hikers from the Indianapolis Hiking Group decided to hike in and around Peru (the birthplace of…read morethe late, great Cole Porter) today to commemorate Cole Porter's birthday which was on June 9th. There were plenty of celebrations around town and we hiked around 9 miles on streets, wooded areas, and along the Wabash River. We started our hike at the cemetery where Cole Porter is buried. The good folks at the Museum in town educated us on the life of Cole Porter and recommended several places for us to eat. There was a classic car show going on and it is obvious that the town is very proud of their history. Cole Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre. After a slow start, he began to achieve success in the 1920s, and by the 1930s he was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway musical stage. Unlike most successful Broadway composers, Porter wrote both the lyrics and the music for his songs. After a serious horseback riding accident in 1937, Porter was left disabled and in constant pain, but he continued to work. His shows of the early 1940s did not contain the lasting hits of his best work of the 1920s and 30s, but in 1947 he made a triumphant comeback with his most successful musical, Kiss Me, Kate. Porter's other musicals include Fifty Million Frenchmen, DuBarry Was a Lady, Anything Goes and Can-Can, and his numerous hit songs include "Night and Day", "I Get a Kick out of You", "Well, Did You Evah!" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". He also composed scores for films from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was noted for his sophisticated, suggestive lyrics, clever rhymes and complex forms. Although Cole Porter was homosexual, he married a wealthy Divorcee, Linda Lee Thomas and the marriage was one of convenience for both of them; for Linda, continued social status and a partner who was the antithesis of her abusive first husband, and for Cole a respectible heterosexual front in an era where homosexuality was not publically acknowledged. Cole Porter is interred in Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, between his wife and father, even though Porter was not close to his father. Cole was his mother's maiden name and as she was a very domineering woman, her son was buried in her family plot, rather than the Porters. A very cute and quaint town to visit. Only 70 miles North of Indianapolis.