Loved the ciders! Beautiful restoration of a local landmark. I'll definitely be back.read more

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!

I was given some free tickets to this venue and found it to be quite interesting for the small town…read moreof Wabash. The house was tastefully restored , with a surgery room right in the middle of the house for the good doctor. The leg in the bucket was a litle graphic, but hey, that's the way it was done before modern anethesia. While we were there, a horse was being delivered for the carriage house, so one could see how the doc got around for his house calls. I thought it interesting that Dr Ford built the Christian Church across the street---making all of the bricks himself by hand. Now that is industrious! The gardens around the house were immaculate! Nice place to visit!

From the owner: The Dr. Ford Home is a restored 19th century physician's home and surgery center…read more The Dr. James Ford Historic Home, a restored 19th Century physician's home and surgery center invites you to experience the daily lives, personalities, and activities of the Dr. James Ford family in the years before, during and just after the Civil War. Period decor and furnishings provide a look at what life may have been like in the mid-1800s. The home includes a Victorian-era flower garden, vegetable and medicinal herb gardens, and the stone barn where Dr. Ford's faithful steed, Barney, is located.

Y'all!!!! I am not a frequent flyer at places like this but my son wanted to go with some friends…read morefor his birthday so we did. Things were pretty quiet until about 1:30 in the morning. Around 2:51 (haha "around" and then I post the exact time) we all RAN out of there and drove home - an HOUR tired, hungry, and freaked out! Blackford County Jail does NOT disappoint and the owners are awesome!!! MUST GO!!!

Amazing period piece in a beautiful setting. You feel like you have gone back in time. Imagine…read moreyoung Kurt reading and writing in the quaint kitchen. The house shares a driveway with one of the premiere homes on the Lake.

From the owner: Landmark & Historical Place · Vacation Home Rentalread more

I've visited numerous Veteran's Memorials around central Indiana and this is one of the most…read morebeautiful and reverential spots I have found. The site is well maintained and landscaped. There are numerous bricks with names on them and even a "station" that will help you find a specific name's location in the plaza. There are two main areas here. One features a single bronze statue called "The Clasping Hand" cast from John Chalk's original and dedicated at the park's opening in year 2000. The second and larger plaza has a standing soldier reaching out across the plaza to where a family reaches back towards him. It emphasizes the connection between loved ones separated by war/service. Overall, it is a beautiful plaza to celebrate the sacrifice of our veterans. Review #2321

The historic Wabash County Courthouse was a treat to visit. The staff (Tonya B.) in the surveyors…read moreoffice was very helpful and sent me a Historical Assessment of the building. The current stone and brick courthouse is the second dedicated courthouse in Wabash as the first structure was destroyed by fire in 1870. The Georgian style building was designed by B. V. Enos & Son (architects). The building was dedicated in 1879, according to a plaque in the lobby. The Courthouse stands high on a prominent square in Wabash. A statue of Abraham Lincoln sits on the northeast corner of the square. In 1880, Wabash became the first electrically lit city with the mounting of four carbon-arc lamps designed by Charles Brush on top of the Courthouse. One of the original lamps is on display in the lobby of the Courthouse. The building has been remodeled several times during its 150 years. Ornate chimneys and wrought iron balustrade on top of the Courthouse have been removed. Original inside molding and doors remain. The tiled floors also appear original. The courtrooms are not original, but classic in style. The Courthouse is welcoming and decorated for the 4th of July. The building is well worth a visit if you enjoy architecture, history and government. Free street parking is available near the building.

We had a great 90+ min narrated tour. So many stories about the family, the house, and the overall…read moreproperty. Nathan the tour guide/ docent was great and had history and anecdotes for anything our tour asked of him. I came in with limited knowledge on FLW, and came away with a much better appreciation.

Had a great tour with Nathan. He is incredibly knowledgeable and obviously loves his job. The…read morefoundation is taking incredible care of this important piece of American history. We've been to a few other FLW properties but no other has been as welcoming. We were encouraged to truly look and see the genius of the design as it was intended. We could stand and sit to get the full effect of each space. We were able to experience first hand the flexibility and convertability of the furniture that adds the final touch to each space. The ingenious additions Mrs. Christian requested that were beautifully designed into the workspace were well before their time.

Neat little park, historical home of Monon railroad, intersection of 2 lines of first all…read moredieselized railroad.

This pocket park is well maintained and features a restored Monon Railroad Caboose on site. There…read moreis also a memorial to the citizens of Monon who worked for the railroad. The park has a few trees, a picnic table, and a railroad service cart. Located downtown next to the railroad, the park also has a historical marker about the Monon Railroad's history...one that was key to the development of the town. If you have a couple minutes, check out this tiny park. Or relax if you have time, maybe have a picnic. Review #2752