You gotta love it, a non-driving day!!! Slept in, made full breakfast, took Shona on two walks and caught the tour trolley into Hannibal, MO. Hannibal has seen its better day but so have many of the "first" towns and cities of the "new" West. Once a booming steam "paddle wheeler" port, which rivaled St Louis, it shipped lumber, pigs and people up and down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. One of the famous River Boat pilots was none other than Samuel Clemens. It was the events and people experienced growing up in this town that Mark Twain would harken back to in many of his famous writings, including Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn Adventures.
It was an overcast, almost hazy day looking down the mighty Mississippi River from Hannibal. You could envision the smells, smoke, hustle and bustle that would be going on in Mark Twain's day.
There was a great series of historic locations in town related to Samuel Clemens which were tastefully done and most enjoyable to visit. I found my whitewash job and quickly jumped in to help!
The Mark Twain timeline had he and his new wife, moving to Buffalo, NY where they moved into a new home on Delaware Avenue built for them by Twain's father-inlaw. Twain became a writer for the Buffalo Courier newspaper. While in Buffalo his father-in-law died and a good friend died in the home. Their young son was very ill and the Twains felt the house had become a source of sadness and they moved after two years to Elmira, NY.
In 1902, Samuel Clemens went one final time to Hannibal, MO. He visited his homestead, met with old friends and gave an 90 minute talk at a reception for his guests. His wife's health was failing and he knew he would not return to the town which played a huge part in who he was. That summer of 1902, he and his wife went to York, Maine and stayed at a cottage, "The Pines". He made an observation while there that "you could toss a rock in nearly any direction and hit a postmaster." Rather true, since there are 4 post offices within a couple miles of one another. His wife became very ill that September and had to be taken back to New York unexpectedly. |
The "Mark Twain Museum" on Main Street had great interactive displays of a number of his best works. There was a history of his time as a riverboat pilot and a collection of nearly a dozen original Norman Rockwell paintings of the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn theme.
It was a great day and I so much enjoyed visiting Mark Twains "roots". What I love about the man is his wit, keen sense of observation and ability to make a statement memorable. A great American who you could devote a lifetime studying. I purchased his autobiography and will get into it tonite!! Shona and I, well rested, will be off tomorrow heading in the general direction of Cincinnati, OH. We'll see how far we can get!!
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
"If your dog doesn't like someone, you probably shouldn't either."
"Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching and live like its heaven on earth."
Amen, Mark Twain!!!
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog."
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
"If your dog doesn't like someone, you probably shouldn't either."
"Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching and live like its heaven on earth."
Amen, Mark Twain!!!