Along the banks of the muddy Mississippi River, lies the small town of Hannibal, Missouri. If you were born in or spent any time residing in the Show-me-State, you’ve likely not only heard of, but know a bit of history about Hannibal.
Mark Twain was a famous author that wasn’t born in Hannibal, but raised there from the time he was a young boy. His father moved the family to town in 1844. A man who struggled with finding steady work, hopes of greater opportunities lied in Hannibal. Born as Samuel Clemens, Mark Twain adopted his pen name, used from times he spent on the riverboats in his teens.
Mark Twain’s most famous books include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These tales are closely based on his adventures as a child in growing up along the busy river town. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were quite the pair, always exploring and sometimes ending up in a bit of trouble. These stories showcase life in a time when kids roamed a bit more freely than they do now and frequently were struck with hard times.
Hannibal is proud of it’s ties to one of the greatest authors and showcases this in many forms. The preservation of Twain’s life and impact on Hannibal can be experienced throughout many facets about the town.
Explore Downtown
Hannibal is nothing if not quaint, cozy and historic. The downtown area boasts local shops, river views and unending references to Mark Twain. Stroll the town when you arrive, to check out stores like the General Store. The General Store has the best selection of candy, an assortment of homestyle canned goods, Old Tyme bottled sodas, unique toys and the best….. a free ice cream cone as you shop!
Just down the block is the History Museum, where you can see artifacts and interactive exhibits. Throughout the museum, you can walk through different time periods throughout Hannibal’s existence. You’ll learn how Hannibal was founded and how the town was divided during the Civil War. Explore the different industries that have come and gone and the various famous Hannibalians (although I’m pretty sure that’s not a word) that have called this town home.
Take a ride on the Mark Twain Riverboat
The Mark Twain Riverboat offers 1-hour tours several times each day and a 2-hour dinner cruise at 6:30 pm. Narrated stories of not only Mark Twain’s life on the Mississippi River but also history of the town itself, is given during the cruise. A small bar with snacks and libations is available on board as well.
The dining room was set up for dinner as we were finishing our cruise. Dining and entertainment on a riverboat would be a great way to end the evening. However, it wouldn’t allow you time for the ghost tour (see below). I’m not sure that a trip to an old river town would be complete without hearing a spooky tale or two.
Have dinner and drinks at Mark Twain Brewing Company
Not only did we have lunch (and drinks) at Mark Twain Brewing Co., we had dinner (and drinks) here as well. For lunch, we enjoyed a beer cheese pretzel and a couple rounds of hot wings. This heavenly-baked pretzel was perfectly salty and soft and undoubtedly the largest pretzel that’s ever set grace to my dining table. I’m not typically a hot wing gal but the hot wings served here were the second best I’ve had. (The first being served at D Rowe’s in Columbia, if you must know.)
Various beers on tap provide a good selection for everybody’s tastes. For the sake of trying new things in a new town, we each ordered the small sampler. I love samplers for this reason and enjoy being able to get just a taste of a little of everything.
Upstairs seating provides a view over the river, however a bit blocked by a random building on stilts that sits at the river’s edge. Watching the activity of town from the upstairs room was also a great way to see some of the sights of town. Not only did we have a great lunch earlier in the day but our dinner was very tasty as well.
Although we planned to try a different eatery for dinner, our stop at the Riverside Inn and a couple of the other restaurants in town didn’t look appealing so back to the Brewing Company we went! Food is only part of the experience of having dinner for us. The atmosphere is a very strong influence on where we choose to have dinner. The dining room at Riverside Inn had the feeling of a 1980s hospital cafeteria, although reviews I read noted that the food was good.
Take a Ghost Tour
After you’ve had dinner, head over to the Historical Society and claim your seat on the bus that will take you on a ghost tour through the haunted streets of Hannibal. The fully costumed host will provide tales and personal stories as have been told to him by area residents. Living in the Hannibal area for a number of years has provided the opportunity for him to collect personal accounts of ghostly encounters from the locals. Drive-bys of the abandoned Catholic church, restaurants and other buildings, coupled with tales of their hauntings is sure to get your imagination running.
Finally, the tour ends on the outskirts of town. Aptly located at the end of a dead end street, a previously abandoned cemetery welcomes you (and all your goosebumps). The tour guide notes that the cemetery was not only abandoned for many years but also went completely unnoticed because it was so overgrown. Now, the cemetery is looked after by some great folks who stepped up to ensure the dead were able to continue resting in peace.
Walking through the graveyard with flashlights and homemade electromagnetic sticks provided by the guide, the hope is that you’ll get to experience possible ghost activity. Our homemade “sticks” (for lack of a better description) were moving around a lot but I’m sad to say, we did not bear witness to any paranormal activity. All said and done though, it was a fun and entertaining way to end the night!
Stay in a Historic Mansion
Ensure you’ve got a place to lay your head for the night by making overnight reservations before coming into town. On weekends especially, when vacancies are limited. Hannibal has several beautiful historic homes-turned-B&Bs for lodging. Main Street Bed & Breakfast, Garden House Bed & Breakfast and Riverside Inn all are tucked into the main streets of town. Staying at any of these mansions would provide you easy access to hit up the sights of town without even cranking the engine.
Garth Woodside Mansion Estate had the last room available in town, which we snagged for the night. This century-plus old home is perched atop a hill, just down a county road a short 10-minute drive outside of town. As you pull into the drive, the stately mansion stops you in your tracks for it’s shear regality. The hosts were kind and gracious and personally showed us to our room.
The home itself is beautiful in its own right. However, the décor of the rooms takes away some of the grandeur. With doilies draped over every mid-century cabinet and floral wallpaper that’s been hanging since wallpaper was invented, a fresh upgrade would do wonders. The mattress should have been updated at least 20 years ago and the bed was remade using damp linens. Therefore, making our night of sleep more than a little restless. Breakfast was served in a sizable dining room in the back, overlooking the shaded back yard. The fresh fruit, coffee and juice, casserole and a muffin was delicious and a great way to start the day.
Check out the famous Mark Twain Cave
Personally, we didn’t have time to take the cave tour but it’s one of the more popular Hannibal attractions. Our ghost guide shared a few stories of the cave, and sounds like it’d be a great stop on any Hannibal adventure.
One story in particular describes a father who, crazed over his daughter’s death, stored her body in the Mark Twain cave for years until someone who was exploring the lesser known areas discovered her. Creepy.
Samuel Clemens spent a lot of his youth exploring this cave with his friends. Details of running throughout town and getting lost in the cave can be found in both his books, showing again the parallel between his adolescence and that of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
Tour Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum has done a great job detailing Twain’s life before and after his time in Hannibal, as well as his years spent here. Expect to spend a couple hours here if you want to really get all the museum has to offer, as it’s a self-guided tour and there is a lot of information to read and exhibits to examine.
Mark Twain was the youngest of 6 siblings, some of whom did not live to see adulthood. Descriptive posters explain some of the hardships of Twain’s young life. Struggles such as sibling death (more than once), a father who constantly struggled to make ends meet and the perils of coming of age in that era.
The admission fee includes a tour not only through Twain’s home but also through Huckleberry Finn’s, Becky Thatcher’s and the neighbor’s who took in their family when his father was down on his luck.
Drive up to Lover’s Leap
On the edge of town, you’ll find a steep drive, trailing up a winding road to one of the highest points in town. Lover’s Leap has a tragic story (as so many leaps do). Once upon a time, an Indian prince and princess were in love. However, they were from opposing tribes, and were not to be together. When the father found them, they jumped from the cliff into the Mississippi River below to die together rather than be forbidden to love.
My small hometown has an eerily similar story about a “Lover’s Leap” spot as well. So…. this tale may or may not be true. I think, maybe, many small towns create a good story about two star-crossed lovers jumping from the town’s cliff because, “Why Not?”.
True story or not, the views from the peak of the cliff are ones that should not be missed. The whole town of Hannibal can be seen from here, the island of the river and the lighthouse on the other side of town. If you’re headed out in the morning, bring your coffee and enjoy the quiet of the morning.
One day trips are some of my favorites. Exploring a part of my home state is easy to do with just an overnight stay. I hope you have been inspired to do your own one day trip!
