Samuel L. Clemens was born, of course, in
Florida... Florida, Missouri. The two-room cabin, where the author
most of us know as Mark Twain was born in 1835, is now a state
historic site, preserved within Mark Twain State Park.
Mark
Twain Lake has a well-earned reputation for outstanding fishing.
Lake facilities include marinas, boat ramps, a swimming beach and
lots of camping. Kids will want to stop at The Landing, a complete
recreational resort.
Northeast of the lake is Hannibal, the
Mississippi River town Twain recalled in creating the adventures of
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Visit the downtown historic district for a
look at Twain's boyhood home and museum, restored to its exact
mid-1800s appearance. The adjacent museum is filled with his
manuscripts and memorabilia, including one of Twain's famous white
suits. Close by are other pieces of Twain history, including the
Becky Thatcher House and Judge Clemens' law office. Twain and his
creations also can be seen in wax at the Haunted House on Hill
Street. Explore underground beauty in the Mark Twain and Cameron
caves. The Molly Brown Birthplace and Museum has recently been
restored.
Still more history, scenic vistas and other
fun await along the Great River Road, which follows the Mississippi
from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Just south of the Iowa state line, the road
passes near the Battle of Athens State Historic Site, where you can
picnic and camp beside a Civil War battlefield. South, at St.
Patrick, be sure to stop by the beautiful shrine in the only United
States town named for this saint.
Plan a stop in Louisiana to explore its
downtown business district, probably the most intact Victorian
streetscape in Missouri. Wildlife watchers know the Clarksville area
for its large numbers of wintering bald eagles.
Further north is Bethel, founded as a German
communal colony in the 1840s. Visit unique historic homes and shop
for antiques. Festivals highlighting crafts and folk
