George & Diane at Hannibal, Missouri, 2007. This is the obligatory "hand the camera to that nice couple over there and have them take our picture!" shot. We did the same for them - they had a Panasonic Lumix camera, very nifty.
Map, Hannibal Historic District showing river and levee. Cardiff hill is to the right past item 6
Bronze placque at mark Twain's boyhood Home in Hannibal, Missouri
Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri (it's the wooden building on the right). Twain's family was constantly beset by financial problems - and Twain himself. though he had a high income, was prone to getting taken by innovative schemes.
From Twain's visit to Hannibal late in life: "The things about me and before me made me feel like a boy again - convinced me that I was a boy again, and that I had simply been dreaming an unusually long dream..."
From Twain's visit to Hannibal late in life: "A long procession of people filed through my mind - people whom... I knew so many years ago - so many centuries ago, it seem... [T]he dreaming shades seemed in right accord with each other, and fitting. Nobody else knew that a procession of the dead was passing through, but there it was, and to me there was nothing uncanny about it; no, they were welcome faces to me..." - Letter to Will Bowen
From Twain's visit to Hannibal late in life: "Nothing remains the same. When a man goes back to look at the house of his childhood, it has always shrunk; there is no instance of such a house being as big as the picture in memory and imagination call for..." - Letter to WD Howell
From Twain's visit to Hannibal late in life: "A man's experiences of life are a book. There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy." - Mark Twain's notebook and "The Refuge of the Derelicts"
From Twain's visit to Hannibal late in life: "A person's nature never changes. What it is in childhood, it remains. Under pressure... it can partially or wholly disappear from sight, and for considerable stretches of time, but nothing can ever permanently modify it, nothing can ever remove it." - "Christian Science," What is Man? and other Philosophical Writings
Grant's drugstore in Hannibal, Missouri. Inside are relics of the horrifying past of medicine. In the future, relics of today's medicine will be carefully hidden by drug company lawyers. But you only need to look inside this building to see that we have, in fact, made real progress.
Grant's drugstore in Hannibal, Missouri
Display in Grant's Drug Store, Hannibal, Missouri
Ye Gads! Tooth hook display in Grant's drugstore Hannibal, Missouri
Horrifying dental foreceps in Grant's drugstore in Hannibal, Missouri Twain wrote: ”When teeth became touched with decay or were otherwise ailing, the doctor knew of but one thing to do--he fetched his tongs and dragged them out. If the jaw remained, it was not his fault.“
Display in Grant's drugstore in Hannibal, Missouri, Twain's mother's worries about his health
Interior view of Grant's drugstore, Hannibal, Missouri. I must say it has strong visual appeal over the Walgreen's three blocks from my house.
Interior view, Grant's drugstore, Hannibal, Missouri
Interior in Grant's drugstore Hannibal Missouri
Medicinals in Grant's drugstore, Hannibal, Missouri. Some of them may have been merely harmless. A few contained lead, or mercury, or cocaine or heroin. And a tiny minority may even have actually had some theraputic effect.
Diane heading into the dark unknown of Twain's cave. Well actually it was very well lit, and we had a knowledgeable guide.
One of many inscriptions and signatures inside Twain's cave
Signatures and inscriptions in Twain's cave. Sorry about the color - I was still figuring out the best setting on my cheap digital camera.
Many famous people signed their names in Twain's cave; Jesse James, Jimmy Carter, and others. Here I found the right camera setting and most of the pictures show pretty naturally what the colors were inside the cave.
Cave was really pretty well lit. Our guide said with a total of 100,000 watts of lamps, though she carefully turned lights off as we left each area. Perhaps they'll start using compact fluorescents.
Portrait of Mark Twain in cave, Hannibal, Missouri. Note date. People made these portraits and inscriptions by sooting the cave wall with a candle or lamp, then scratching the portrait.
Our guide explaining darkness just before the lights went out. I don't know how people explored caves before reliable portable lights were invented. Considering that this cave once had a large bat population, it could not have been a healthy pasttime.
The sitting room in Mark Twain's cave. Note limestone worn shiny by generations of visitors sitting down for a rest. Our guide was married in this room as have been many other people. But she said HER wedding was the best!
Mark Twain's Cave wonderful guide telling about weddings in cave... including hers!
Another view of the sitting room. The “seats” are a natural formation.
Interior, Mark Twain's Cave, Hannibal, Missouri
The bright appearance of these photos is somewhat deceptive. Note the flat floor. This is really not so uncommon in caves as clay collects in the bottom; this one has been packed quite hard by visitors' feet.
idiots won't stop throwing money around in Mark Twain's cave, hannibal missouri
This photo gives a better idea of the lighting
neato rock formation, Mark Twain's Cave, Hannibal, Missouri
Neato rock formation, Mark Twain's Cave, Hannibal, Missouri
Nifty rock formations, Mark Twain's Cave, hannibal, Missouri
Must be fun deciding on the lighting
Ghostly visitors in a cave almost certainly full of ghosts
The audience in Mark Twain cave tour, Hannibal, Missouri
Calcite deposit in Mark Twain's cave, Hannibal, Missouri Early explorers thought these were valuable, dug them out and took them to hannibal to be assessed. Our guide said; “They're about as hard as my fingernail and just as valuable.”
Guide telling scary stories in Mark Twain's cave, Hannibal, Missouri
The light of day!
Statue of Mark Twain, Hannibal, Missouri
Video security Hannibal Missouri waterfront 2007 (filthy lens facing into sun couldn't possibly see anything) Feel safer now?
View towards levee and Mississippi Hannibal Missouri
Massive steel floodgates at Hannibal, Missouri
Flood gate stays at levee, Hannibal, Missouri In the last great flood water got to six inches from the top. Must have been a nervous time for the town.
Flood gates at levee in Hannibal, Missouri. “Costs $5,000 every time we move 'em!”
Levee at Hannibal, Missouri. Imagine the Mississippi within six inches of the top of this in 1993
Flood gate stays at Levee in Hannibal, Missouri
View through levee floodwall anchor, Hannibal, Missouri
Looking East toward levee floodwall anchor, Hannibal, Missouri
Levee floodwall anchor, Hannibal, Missouri (In 1993 water came to within 6 inches of top)
View of Hannibal, Missouri through flood gates
Flood gate stays at levee, Hannibal, Missouri
Barge traffic along Mississippi at Hannibal, Missouri
Lead edge of Mississippi barge, Hannibal, Missouri
Closeup of barge on Mississippi along Hannibal, Missouri
Receding barge on Mississippi along Hannibal, Missouri
Barge covers on Mississippi along Hannibal, Missouri
Mark Twain river tour, Hannibal, Missouri
Modern equipment on Twain “paddleboat” Hannibal Missouri 2007
Evening, barge, on Mississippi, Hannibal, Missouri 2007
Mississippi from Cardiff hill, Hannibal Missouri
Lover's leap from cardiff hill hannibal missouri 2007 It was actually dusky evening when I made this shot.
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 panorama frame 1 Feel free to photoshop these five frames together in one panorama - and email the result to me! (Yes, I really am that lazy)
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 panorama frame 2
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 panorama frame 3
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 Panorama frame 4
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 Panorama frame 5
Rail repairs and bridges seen from Lover's Leap, Hannibal, Missouri
View of Cardiff Hill from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007
View from Lover's Leap, Hannibal Missouri, 2007 historic district by telephoto
Lover's Leap plaque, Hannibal, Missouri. Note where some idiot blasted it with a shotgun. The pellets hit straight-on, which means they would have bounced straight back.
Lover's Leap monument stone picture faces the river in Hannibal, Missouri. The brave is assuring his young sweetheart that he will become wealthy, and be able to afford a plastic surgeon to relocate her nose to the correct place. Or is it her mouth that is in the wrong place? (You'd think if you're carving something into granite...)
Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Twain reading to Tom & Huck Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri These sculptures were extraordinary, and could be found in many display areas of the museum grounds.
Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Wheel house Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Riverboats along Mississippi Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Norman Rockwell original, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri I must say, you learn something about an artist seeing the original paintings that is lost in reproductions. People diss Rockwell a lot but he was an incredible artist, somewhat trapped in the pull of his commercial patrons.
detail Norman Rockwell original in Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
One of Mark Twain's typewriters, Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri . Twain was an “early adopter” with new technologies.
Mark Twain's pipe, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Two Norman Rockwell originals, Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri. This teacher would go to prison today.
Two Norman Rockwell originals, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Norman Rockwell originals, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Norman Rockwell originals, Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Two Norman Rockwell originals in Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Bust of Mark Twain Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Bust of Mark Twain, Exhibit in Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Bust of Mark Twain, and movie posters, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Bust of Mark Twain in Mark Twain museum Hannibal, Missouri. This one seems to capture the darker side of Twain's personality.
Movie poster in Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri. I like this poster.
Portrait of Mark Twain, Mark Twain Museum Hannibal Missouri
Mark Twain's fountain pen, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Detail, mark Twain fountain pen, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Detail, Mackinnon Pen, Mark Twain's Fountain pen, Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Detail of Dan Beard illustration of Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri
Dan Beard illustration Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Mark Twain museum, Hannibal, Missouri. Beard found himself blacklisted in the illustration business after doing this book, because he used the recognizable faces of several powerful and influential people.
Original Lester Ralph illustration from Diary Of Adam & Eve, Mark Twain Museum, Hannibal, Missouri. This was pretty controversial stuff for its day. The book was banned in a few places for its portrayal of Eve in "Summer costume"
Mark Twain reading to Tom & Huck
Stern visage of William Henry Hatch, Hannibal, Missouri
Limestone inclusions in foundation of (long-gone) building in Hannibal, Missouri 2007
Diane with Mark Twain statue
Public historical signs in Hannibal, Missouri
Street scene in Hannibal, Missouri
View along street in Hannibal, Missouri, showing lighthouse on hill
Geodetic survey marker in Hannibal, Missouri. Notice the whopping $250 fine for disturbing this marker. That's about four grand in today's money.
Art gallery in Hannibal, Missouri
Weird Superman pogo stick in antique shop, Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal Missouri from Cardiff Hill steps
Interior Java Jive coffee shop Hannibal Missouri This coffee shop advertised itself as “the first coffee shop West of the Mississippi! It was a nice coffee shop in spite of that little fib.
Overhead view of scale in JavaJive in Hannibal, Missouri
Evening main st hannibal missouri 2007
Evening shot Hannibal Missouri from Cardiff Hill Steps
Diane at Jumping Frog Cafe, Hannibal, Missouri, 2007. Try their rhubarb + cream cheese pie. And their “adult cheese sandwich”.
Proposed sculpture in Hannibal Missouri. Wow.
Street scene, Hannibal Missouri 2007
Hotel Clemens at Hannibal Missouri 2007 (not exactly an architectural treasure for wearing such an historic name)
In Hannibal, Missouri, the visage of Mark Twain can be found anywhere and on anything
Classic theater for sale, Hannibal, Missouri 2007
Farmer's & Mercant's Bank building, Hannibal, Missouri
Old Hannibal Missouri post office, Victorian architecture at its most hideous
Old Hannibal Missouri post office, now a nightclub, Victorian architecture at its most hideous
E Pluribus Unum plaque on Hannibal, Missouri post office 2007 has nothing really to do with hannibal but what the heck it was a neat plaque
Annuit Coeptis Novus Ordo Seclorum plaque Hannibal Missouri post office, 2007 same observation as before
Gotta admire the creativity, even the craftsmanship. A-Plus!
Cardiff hill. We saw the groundhog behind and to the left of the ABC gift shop.
Groundhog on Cardiff Hill, Hannibal Missouri 2007. Diane spotted this little fellow as we were about to ascend the 245 steps to the lighthouse. After posing for this photo, he scampered up the hill and into a hole.
View of Cardiff hill, Hannibal, Missouri
The first 55 steps up Cardiff hill in Hannibal, Missouri. There are a total of 245 steps street to lighthouse.
Tom & Huck sculpture at base of Cardiff Hill Hannibal Missouri 2007
diane snapped this shot of the lighthouse. Easily the best one of our trip.
80 steps from old Mark Twain memorial bridge approach to road above, Cardiff hill, Hannibal, Missouri
Diane ascending Cardiff Hill, Hannibal, Missouri It was such a beautiful day that even climbing stairs was fun!
Turkey vulture in flight over Mississippi Hannibal Missouri 2007
Turkey vulture over Mississippi at Hannibal, Missouri. I would judge the wingspan on this fellow to be in the neighborhood of six feet.
View of Mississippi from approach to old Mark Twain memorial bridge, Hannibal, Missouri
Lighthouse above Hannibal, Missouri and Mississippi river Note highlights washed out, this is a nasty characteristic of my Fujifilm camera. I need a better camera but this one was cheap anyway.
View of Cardiff hill lighthouse from the North
View of Cardiff hill lighthouse from the NorthWest
Statue at base of Cardiff Hill, Hannibal, Missouri
Mississippi from Cardiff Hill, Hannibal, Missouri
1935 Mark Twain memorial bridge plaque
Mark Twain memorial bridge plaque
Statue of Tom & Huck at base of Cardiff Hill, Hannibal Missouri
