a half-dozen bulletproof vests. On June 23, 1972, Martin J. McNally hijacked American Airlines Flight 119 while in flight from St. Louis to Tulsa. After receiving a ransom of $502,500 he jumped out of the back of the Boeing 727 in what was the ninth copycat hijacking in the style of D. B. Cooper. The entire ransom as well as a weapon were found near Peru. A fingerprint led to his arrest. The money was found in a sealed canvas mail bag by local farmer Lowell Elliott while he was working in his soybean field. Another farmer, Ronald Miller, discovered a Spitfire submachine gun in his corn field when a blade hit it while applying liquid nitrogen fertilizer. The movie Little Big Top, which starred Sid Haig, was shot and directed in the town of Peru by Peru native Ward Roberts who also wrote the movie. Scenes show the famous drive up to the "Mr. Weenie" restaurant and the Circus building. The Brownell Block/Senger Dry Goods Company Building, James Omar Cole House, Miami County Courthouse, Peru High School Historic District, and Shirk-Edwards House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Circuses Peru was the winter headquarters for several famous circuses, including Ringling Brothers, Hagenbeck–Wallace, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and others. The International Circus Hall of Fame is located in Peru. Annually during the third week of July, the Peru Amateur Circus holds performances for the whole week, ending with the Circus City Festival and Parade. All of the performers are amateurs, ranging in age from 7 to 21 years. Peru is also the home of the world's only remaining manufacturer of steam calliopes. Mariya Rasputina, daughter of Grigori Rasputin, was mauled by a bear in Peru while working for the Hagenback-Wallace Circus, but survived. Geography Peru is located on the Wabash River. According to the 2010 census, Peru has a total area of , of which (or 98.59%) is land and (or 1.41%) is water. Peru is the largest town or city in Miami County, and is the site of the tribal headquarters of the Miami Nation. Peru's water treatment plant tested negative for PFC in September 2015. Transportation The business route of US Route 31 runs north–south through Peru. The business route of US Route 24 runs east–west through the town. The town had been stop on Wabash Railroad trains between St. Louis and Detroit. The