Literature’s Liveliest Town
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
are two of the most beloved books in American literature. While they
are known best for their spunky, mischievous main characters, the books
also became a favorite part of high school English because of the wild
frontier town where the boys had their adventures. In the books, the
town and its people often seem so unconventional and larger-than-life
that many assume that their author, Mark Twain, completely invented the
setting.
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However, the town, St. Petersburg, is based on the real city of Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain himself grew up.
Hannibal
got its start in 1819, and in just over 40 years became Missouri’s
second-largest city due its popularity as a docking place for steamboats
traveling on the Mississippi River. By the time four-year-old Mark
Twain moved there with his family in 1839, industries such as lumber and
candle making had transformed it into a bustling commercial center that
was home to people from many different places and walks of life.
At the same time, it was a typical “Wild West” town which was no stranger to lawlessness and shady characters.
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Much
like his books’ main characters Tom and Huck, Twain’s childhood was
spent playing pranks, chasing girls, and embarking on adventures in the
local area. However, after his father died in 1847 when he was just 11
years old, he was forced to leave school, and began working a string of
colorful jobs that gave him a different perspective on Hannibal. He
started out at his brother’s newspaper, beginning as a typesetter and
eventually moving on to the profession that would make him famous by
writing humorous stories. After traveling around the East Coast for four
years, he returned to the Hannibal area and became a riverboat pilot,
which was the most prestigious job around because of the importance of
the river and the danger involved in navigating its many sharp turns and
hidden rocks.
Twain eventually left Hannibal for good and went on to become one
of the country’s best-known authors. He never forgot the many adventures
he had in the small river town, though, and included many of his
childhood friends and experiences in his two most famous books. The city
of Hannibal has worked hard to preserve the places made famous by Tom
and Huck, and has made sure that the buildings, streets, and green
spaces look exactly like they did during the 1840’s, which is when the
books take place.
Elaborately-dressed re-enactors strolling the
streets and a replica riverboat chugging along the Mississippi complete
the picture, transporting visitors straight into the world of the
stories.
Planning Your Trip
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Hannibal is extremely easy to reach, as it is only a two hour drive from St. Louis and a three hour drive from Kansas City,
which both make a great starting point for your trip as they are filled
with things to do. If you want to really immerse yourself in the
car-free world of the 1840’s, there are many overnight riverboat cruises that travel between the major cities along Mississippi River and stop in Hannibal.
Although
Hannibal is small, there is no shortage of Twain-themed things to do.
The city’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau runs a website that describes nearly all the activities, restaurants, shopping, and more that visitors can enjoy. The site also lists events and festivals, including concerts, art exhibits, and Twain’s upcoming 180th
birthday party. You can also download or request to be mailed a visitor
guide, which provides additional recommendations, contains a number of
helpful maps and, best of all, includes a list of seven free things to
do.
The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also runs Facebook and Twitter
accounts, which they use to highlight special events and offbeat things
to see and do and regularly post witty and wise Twain quotes to help
brighten your day. They also have an Instagram
page filled with artsy snaps of everything from Hannibal’s artisanal
coffeehouses to its Victorian cemeteries. The Bureau is also challenging
people to take pictures with small Twain figurines they give out and
post them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under the hashtag
#TravelingTwain, and is awarding some great prizes to the best shots.
Searching this hashtag on any of these platforms is also a great way to
get more Hannibal inspiration from other travelers.
Best of Hannibal
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Since
the Mississippi River played such a major role in Twain’s life, his
books, and Hannibal itself, it is the natural first stop on any trip
that is following in Twain's footsteps. On a daytime or dinner sail on The Mark Twain Riverboat,
you will hear stories about Twain and his characters while cruising
past spots he made famous, such as the island where Huck meets his
traveling companion Jim. After disembarking, you can get an overview of
the downtown area by taking a charming trolley tour along a 14-mile
loop.
The best way for visitors to experience Twain’s time in Hannibal is to purchase a ticket to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum,
which provides access to the house where he grew up, as well the homes
of the real people who inspired Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer’s crush, Becky
Thatcher. The fun doesn’t end there, though, as the price of your ticket
also includes the court where Twain’s father was a judge, a performance
by a Twain impersonator, and the ability to “paint” the infamous fence
that gives Tom Sawyer so much trouble. Before you leave, make sure to
take a photo (or a selfie) with the famous statue of Tom and Huck.
The legacy left by Twain and his characters is visible far outside the small circle of houses where he and his friends grew up. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is such a significant book largely because it opened people's eyes to the injustice of slavery. The newly-opened Huck Finn Freedom Center
is the first attraction in Hannibal to focus on this important aspect
of Twain’s writing, which it does through exhibits on the life of the
man Jim was based on, Daniel Quarles, and the wider African-American
experience in the community. Yet another way to get in touch with the
books is to take a Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tour,
which mixes history and humor with tales of paranormal occurrences at
Hannibal’s spookiest sites, including the cemetery where the man who
inspired Tom Sawyer’s nemesis, Injun Joe, is buried.
No fan of Twain’s could ever forget the caves where Tom and Becky get hopelessly lost. The caves are based on real ones
Twain played in as a child, which can now be explored on three
different tours, including two where a lantern you carry is your only
source of light. The cave complex is also home to one of Missouri’s most
acclaimed wineries, Cave Hollow West.
If Twain buffs still want more after visiting Hannibal, they can drive
45 minutes west to Florida, Missouri, which is home to the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site.
Visitors can tour the tiny cabin where Twain was born, which also
contains several first editions of his book and a handwritten manuscript
of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
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