Hannibal Things to Do

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America's greatest author has a memorial lighthouse on the hill over Hannibal. Built in 1935, this lighthouse has been visited by American presidents Roosevelt and Clinton. Unfortunately, we arrived to late to visit. But, here are some images of the picnic area and other places within the park. There's a fine bronze statue of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Twain's most enduring character's

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There is a park and boat ramp on the Mississippi. To get there one has to walk or drive across the railroad tracks, which are in routine use. Naturally, an excursionary paddlewheeler has regular trips that leave from the waterfront.

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We were lucky for having arrive in the late afternoon to see this festivity for we had not planned for it at all. It was a Friday evening, and we hoped to simply have a glimpse of the famous town where legendary Mark Twain was born and raised. I was most amused by the mud volleyball.

....Okay, it's just a fence and Tom Sawyer never really existed, right? So, you still wonder if this guy is paying or being paid to paint the fence.
....For those who don't know the famous storyline from the opening of the novel Tom Sawyer, Tom was being punished for his normal prankish behavior by having to wash the fence. When the kids of the town came by to make fun of him, he convinced them that he was painting the fence because he WANTED to and it was so much fun he wouldn't let them do it even if they paid him. The reverse psychology worked and soon he had legions of Hannibal's youngest generation paying him to whitewash the fence while he watched.
....Before you laugh too hard, consider this: wouldn't you pay a dollar just to paint a slat or two of this fence so that you coould say you painted Tom Sawyer's fence and paid for it. You would, wouldn't you?

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Since the Riverboat is such a Mississippi icon, and Hannibal was such a riverboat town, there is no better way to experience both places by taking a ride on a riverboat. You'll circle north to the bridge, then turn south on the Illinois side before circling back towards Hannibal in Missouri. All during this time you can sit on the deck, enjoy the breeze and listen to a narrative about the town, the river, Mark Twain and riverboating itself. You'll learn about the legend of the bluffs, the ice houses that used to have their caves along the riverbanks and the perpetual flooding brought by Big Muddy. When we took our trip, we were one of the few passengers on board, so we got to move side to side to get close looks at everything the tourguide mentioned.

The small house in which Mark Twain grew up and lived during the 1830's is well-preserved and guarded by an excellent museums that documents his formative years. At that time , Missouri was a slave state and the economic heart of the midwest due to the life-giving commerce off the Mississippi River. The museum discusses how the young Samuel Clemens may have come about his anti-slavery views, to include the social contact he may have had with young black children and/or adults. It also introduces many of the other characters in his life, many whom were models for characters in his work. You'll enjoy a trip here and be able to purhase some of Mark Twain's books in the gift shop -- make sure you get them stamped as coming from his home!

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There are a number of homes and shops to tour along the water front and also going up the somewhat steep streets. The pitch down to the Mississippi is a site to behold. The houses and area has all been restored and done quite nicely to take you back in time what it ws like in the late 1800's

Becky Thatchers home is little more than a gift shop -- the upstairs has a little bit to see, but the downstairs is all a gift shop. Since your ticket to Tom Sawyers House includes Becky's house, make sure to stop by. Its just across the street when you exit Tom's house.