| Hannibal Home Attractions Famous Residents Recreation Restaurants/Hotels/ Bed & Breakfast  |
The Tom Sawyer Dioramas Museum
at 323 North Main Street offers a unique look into the world of Tom Sawyer.
The museum showcases 16 hand-carved miniature scenes that highlight the
novel. The artist, Art Sieving, completed the carvings in the 1960's.
They provide an excellent example of Hannibal life in the nineteenth century.
For additional information call (573) 221-3525.
Built in the 1860's, the childhood house of the Unsinkable Molly Brown
now houses the Molly Brown
Birthplace & Museum. The building has been recently restored
and features period furnishings. The museum provides visitors with a look
into Brown's life as well as information about the Titanic. The Titanic
Room is dedicated to the voyage and sinking of the ship and the role that
Brown played. Call (573) 221-2100 for more details.
The Mark T
wain
Boyhood Home & Museum is housed in the actual boyhood home
of Mark Twain. The house was built in 1844 and the Clemens Family moved
there in the late 1840's. The home was fully restored in the 1990's and
serves as a memorial to the famous author. Visitors can view pictures
of the people he used as characters and see one of Twain's famous white
suits as well as a wealth of Twain artifacts. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home
& Museum is located at 208 Hill Street. Call (573) 221-9010 for more
details.
The Museum Gallery is
located in a newly restored building on the corner of Main & Center
Streets. The art gallery holds 15 original Norman Rockwell paintings
that
were used as illustrations in special editions of The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Visitors can also view
a replicated steamboat pilot house and several other interactive displays.
For additional information call (573) 221-9010.
The Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse
is the world's farthest inland lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in
memory of Mark Twain and was never intended to insure safe travel on the
Mississippi. It offers an amazing view of the river valley and its beautiful
scenery.
The only United States museum dedicated to optics, The Optical
Science Center & Museum, can be found
at 214 North Main in Hannibal. The museum's 4,000 square feet offer a
computerized light show, optical illusions, and eye tests. The hands-on
learning environment allows visitors to play with light rays and even
try on more than 500 unusual or antique eyeglass frames on display. Call
the museum at (573) 221-2020 for more information.
The Becky Thatcher Home
is the childhood home of Laura Hawkins, Mark Twain's childhood sweetheart.
In Twain's writings, Becky Thatcher was Tom Sawyer's sweetheart. Hawkins
lived in the house during the 1840's and the upstairs parlor and bedroom
have been restored to their original appearance. The main floor offers
a book store and gift shop for visitors. The Becky Thatcher Home is located
at 211 Hill Street. For details call (573) 221-0822.
Rockcliffe Mansion
was built in 1900 by John Cruikshank, a wealthy lumber baron. The mansion
was home to the Cruikshank Family until 1924 when John died. After his
death the structure was left vacant for 43 years. Today the three-story
Greek Revival is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and
has been restored to its original splendor. Visitors will see 10 marble
fireplaces, the original Tiffany lighting fixtures, and numerous other
original furnishings. Rockcliffe Mansion is located at 100 Bird Street.
For more information about Rockcliffe call (573) 221-4140.
Completed in 1872, the Garth
Woodside Mansion is a three-story Italianate built by Colonel
John Garth. The mansion boasts a three-story flying staircase that has
no visible means of support. It has been fully restored with original
furnishings such as carpets, furniture, and Garth family items. Today
the mansion serves as a three-star bed and breakfast and is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places. For details call (573) 221-2789.
Mark Twain Cave was
discovered in 1819 and is Missouri's oldest show cave. The cave has been
used by a variety of people for a variety of reasons. Native Indians used
it as a hiding place as did robbers such as Jesse James. It was also used
as a hiding place in the Underground Railroad. Young Sam Clemens also
frequented the cave and later incorporated his cave experiences in his
writings. The cave is open for tours and stays a cool 52 year round. Mark
Twain Cave is located 1 mile south of Hannibal on Highway 79. For more
information call (573) 221-1656.
Hannibal is also home to Missouri's newest show cave, Cameron
Cave. The 9-acre cave was found in 1925 and has been open
for tours since 1978. There is a tour available where visitors hold lanterns
to light their way through the cave's maze-like paths. Call (573) 221-1656
for additional information.
Some of Hannibal's other attractions include:
• The Old Jail Museum
- Built in 1878 and recently restored, this building is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
• The Clemens Law Office
- The office of John Marshall Clemens where he presided as Justice of
the Peace.
• The Pilaster House
- One of Hannibal's oldest structures dating back to the 1830's.
• The Tom & Huck Statue
- This statue was sculpted by Frederick Hibbard in 1926 and is located
at the foot of Cardiff Hill.
• The Haunted House on Hill Street Wax Museum
- This museum houses two dozen wax figures of the Clemens Family as well
as some of Mark Twain's characters.