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Historic Driving Tour

Discover Miami County’s Hidden History

Miami County, Indiana

Miami County’s Historic Miami County’s Historic Miami County’s Historic Miami County’s Historic Seven PillarsSeven PillarsSeven PillarsSeven Pillars

3. 3. 3. 3. Chief Richardville’s House Chief Richardville’s House Chief Richardville’s House Chief Richardville’s House

9. 9. 9. 9. Old Fashioned GardenOld Fashioned GardenOld Fashioned GardenOld Fashioned Garden

5. 5. 5. 5. Chief Francis Godfroy’s Chief Francis Godfroy’s Chief Francis Godfroy’s Chief Francis Godfroy’s Memorial, Godfroy Cemetery Memorial, Godfroy Cemetery Memorial, Godfroy Cemetery Memorial, Godfroy Cemetery

12. 12. 12. 12. Entrance to Hagenbeck Wallace Entrance to Hagenbeck Wallace Entrance to Hagenbeck Wallace Entrance to Hagenbeck Wallace Circus Winter QuartersCircus Winter QuartersCircus Winter QuartersCircus Winter Quarters

6. 6. 6. 6. Original Circus Winter QuartersOriginal Circus Winter QuartersOriginal Circus Winter QuartersOriginal Circus Winter Quarters

1. 1. 1. 1. Toll House & Toll Bridge, 1850’sToll House & Toll Bridge, 1850’sToll House & Toll Bridge, 1850’sToll House & Toll Bridge, 1850’s

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Wabash

County

Miami County Historical Society 51 North Broadway Peru, Indiana 46970

765-473-9183 www.mcmuseum.org

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Begin your tour at the corner of South

Broadway and Canal Streets, Peru.

#1 TOLL HOUSE— On the north-east corner

of the Broadway Bridge . Built in 1844 for

collecting tolls for the first Broadway Bridge.

Cross the bridge. Turn left on Riverside Drive

which is SR 124 (E) Turn right, (S) on 300E.

#2 OSAGE VILLAGE— One of the largest and

most important Miami Indian Villages along

the Wabash Valley. Here, on May 15, 1812

Tecumseh appealed to the Miami to join his

confederacy to fight the US Army. The Miami

Indians declined.

#3 CHIEF RICHARDVILLE’S HOUSE—This is

one of several houses built for Chief John

Baptiste Richardville by the US Government.

Richardville was half French and half Miami

and the principal chief for the Miami from

1812-1841. Turn left on Mississinewa Road (E)

Follow River.

#4 SEVEN PILLARS— One of Miami County’s

most recognized landmarks. These pillars

were formed by the Mississinawa River over

thousands of years. The Seven Pillars has

been a favorite gathering place for the Mi-

ami Indians and the people of Miami County

for generations. Return to SR 124 by returning

to 300 E. Turn right (N) on 300E. Turn right (E) on

SR 124. Site # 5 is on the right (S), just before the

Y in the Road.

#5 CHIEF FRANCIS GODFROY CEME-

TERY— Chief Godfroy was the last war

chief of the Miami Indian Nation. The

cemetery is located across the road from

the trading post. Half French and half

Miami Indian, Godfroy was a fierce war-

rior and respected businessman among

the white. Continue East on SR 124. Site #6

is the red brick house and red barn on the left.

(Present site of Poor Farm Candies).

#6 ORIGINAL CIRCUS WINTER QUAR-

TERS—Ben Wallace purchased this farm

in 1877. In 1884, he acquired a traveling

menagerie show. Turn right (S) on 675E.

Turn right on Mississinewa Dam Road. Turn

left at first parking lot. Trail starts here.

#7 LOST SISTER TRAIL– Lost Sister was

the name that the Indians gave to the

stolen white child, Frances Slocum. This

is a walking trail that takes about two

hours. Posts along the way are marked

with arrows indicating crossings and

changes in direction. Turn right (E) on Mis-

sissinewa Dam Road then right (S) on Wabash

County 650W .

#8 FRANCES SLOCUM CEMETERY—The

entrance is marked by a large plaque

telling the story of Frances Slocum. This

is one of several Miami Indian cemeter-

ies . (This is located in Wabash County.)

Backtrack to Site #7 and cross the Missis-

sinewa Dam. Turn right (N) on Frances Slocum

Trail.

#9 OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN—A swinging

roadside sign identifies this famous land-

mark. This was the home of Cole Porters

step-grandmother. The flower garden in-

spired one of Cole’s first hit songs “Old-

Fashioned Garden.”

#10 THE PORTER HOME— Westleigh Farm

was built for Kate Cole Porter, the mother

of Cole Porter. Continue N. on Frances Slocum

Trail. Cross SR 124 to Site #11 & Site #12 on

Circus Lane.

#11 GABRIEL GODFROY HOME– This land

was first deeded to Frances Godfroy, a

Miami War Chief, as part of a treaty. It

later passed to his son Gabriel Godfroy

who built this home. In 1891, Godfroy sold

the property to Ben Wallace and this be-

came the winter quarters for the Hagen-

beck-Wallace Circus.

#12 HAGENBECK-WALLACE WINTER

QUARTERS—This was also the home of the

Sells Floto, John Robinson, and many

other circuses and shows. For nearly 50

years, many circuses left this farm on the

first day of May for the summer circuit.

Turn left (W) on SR 124 and return to Peru.

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