Peru, Indiana

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Peru, Indiana, Circus Capital of the World

In the past 100 years, there as been more circus activity in Peru than anywhere else in the world.

The golden age of the American circus began in 1870, when nearly a dozen large circuses toured the country. From then until the 1940's Peru, a railroad hub, was a focal point for a traveling industry that depended on the rails to move its decorated circus wagons, performing animals and entertainers from one site to another. At its peak, Peru was home to some famous shows, including Hagenbeck-Wallace, Sells-Floto, Terrell Jacobs, John Robinson, and Howes Great London.

In 1891, Col. Benjamin Wallace purchased a site between the Wabash and Mississinewa rivers from Gabriel Godfroy, son of the Miami tribe's Chief Francis Godfroy. He then moved his circus from its original quarters a few miles down the road.

The Winter Quarters was used later by the American Circus Corporation, and then sold to the Ringlings of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Ringlings closed the Winter Quarters and moved to Florida in the early 1940's.

In the 1920's and 1930's, our Peru residents included: Animal Trainers' Clyde Beatty, Terrell Jacobs and "Cheerful" Gardner Master Clown Emmett Kelly, The Equestrians' Albert Hodgini Troupe, Trapeze Artist's Alfredo Cadona, the Flying Concellos, and many others. Several famous performers retired in Peru after long careers.

www.circushalloffame.com/