Nature's School is both the intriguing story of the rise and fall of a town because of the influence of the Wabash River and a broader observation of the significant role of water in the chronicle of American history. Peru, Indiana is usually defined by the rich circus heritage in its past, but the most significant history of the town lies in the relationship it has with the Wabash River, a story that has largely been forgotten. Nature's School is a narrative that includes Native Americans, land speculation, the Wabash & Erie Canal, railroads, and changes in the Wabash River, weaving an absorbing tale about the settling of Peru, its destruction during the 1913 flood, and the consequences of misreading the role of humans within the natural landscape.