Mark Twain Attractions in Hannibal Missouri

During our 3000-mile Fall Foliage road trip, we travelled through a total of 9 states, multiple large cities, and plenty of small towns on a trip that we will never forget. I am not sure if everyone plans road trips with the detail that I do, but I try to experience as much as possible along the way. From a homeschooling perspective, we try to make these stops educational and fun. That’s how we ended up visiting all the Mark Twain attractions in Hannibal Missouri!

Payton has enjoyed multiple books by Mark Twain and a biography about his life. There was no doubt that visiting his boyhood hometown would be exciting and also informative. As a homeschooling family, we love to add history into our travels as much as possible. Even though we did not have a tremendous amount of time to spend in the city, we wanted Payton to see as much as possible.

Disclaimer : We were hosted by Hannibal Visitors Center, however, as always, all opinions are my own.

Things to do in Hannibal MO (with kids)

As soon as you round the curve and enter the town, there is no doubt where you are. Mark Twain is everywhere – it is Hannibal’s biggest claim to fame. We had planned to take a river cruise on the Mississippi River to feel connected to Huck Finn; and take a walking tour around Hannibal. But alas the weather had other ideas – the river was flooded and there was snow expected. Luckily there are more things to do in Hannibal Missouri:

Mark Twain Caves

The young Mark Twain would play in caves near his house, and these fond childhood memories then made it into his stories. You can now take a 1-hour guided tour through these caves. Remarkably, Twain had signed his name in these caves, and it was discovered on July 26, 2019 during the cave’s bicentennial year.

Did you know ‘Mark Twain’ was just a pen-name. His real name was Sam Clemens!

Jessie James is said to have passed through these caves and signed his name (in 1879) too, just three years before he was killed. While the tour isn’t arduous, there are some narrow passageways, and that certainly played on my claustrophobia. But I managed, and was happy to have learned the history of these caves. There is a gift shop, a campground, and a restaurant onsite also.

Lover’s Leap

On our way back into town, we passed a sign leading the way to lovers leap. Have you heard the legend? The Indian legend tells of two young lovers who were forbidden to be together. When word got out, they were chased up to the promontory. The pursuers wished him dead, but she couldn’t live without him, so they embraced and jumped together to their deaths. It has been known as Lover’s Leap ever since.

Mark Twain Boyhood Home

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum is a fascinating glimpse into his life. The tour starts in the interpretive center, which has a timeline of his life, and is filled with displays, videos, and information. Even though we learned about Mark Twain in homeschool, there was a great deal of fascinating information here that was new to us. After the interpretive center, the walking tour continues on to his boyhood home.

Becky Thatcher’s Home

After visiting Mark Twain’s home, you can also visit Becky Thatcher’s house too. These historic homes filled with memorabilia, artefacts, and information from the life and time of Mark Twain and his associates. The character of Becky Thatcher is actually based on Mark Twain’s childhood friend Laura Hawkins; and it is her childhood home you tour.

From Sam Clemens to Mark Twain

This video is 3 minutes long, but I encourage you to watch it and show it to your kids. Do you know how uppercase and lowercase letters came to be? Or how the first newspapers were printed? Did you know how Mark Twain learned grammar skills important to writing after being required to leave school at such a young age? All of that and more is explained in this video that we watched during our time on tour in Hannibal!

Tom Sawyer’s Fence

No trip to Hannibal would be complete without stopping by the Tom Sawyer’s fence. I can remember reading the book and thinking that this fence must have been 2 city blocks long. I guess from a child’s perspective, maybe it is!

If you love history as much as Payton, you’d love visiting the Hunley submarine in Charleston!

Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn Statue

Like any town proud of their literary heritage, Hannibal Missouri has a statue of Tom and Huck in the center. Young Sam Clemens would never have guessed how his future books would inspire generations of kids from around the world.

Where to eat in Hannibal MO

Where else but the Becky Thatcher Diner on Main Street. This retro establishment has loads of atmosphere and serves up hearty food (including all-day breakfast) in central Hannibal. We enjoyed warming up with some hot coffee and friendly service.

Can’t make it all the way to Missouri? Did you know that Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando has a Tom Sawyer ride?

Attractions in Hannibal Missouri

There is so much to learn about in Hannibal. Mark Twain and his characters are entrenched in our society and history, and it was an honour to learn more about them at the attractions in Hannibal Missouri. There is no better way for a homeschooling family to bring history to life than by visiting it in person. Thanks to Hannibal Visitor Center for this opportunity.

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