Most people fly into Bradley Airport and miss seeing Hartford. The city does have its issues.
The effort in seeing Mark Twain’s House in West Hartford is well worth the effort though. It was Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) home from 1874-1891.
We would highly recommend taking the historical character’s tour. We had Mrs. Clemens take us through a 45-minute tour of this house that looks like “part steamboat, part medieval fortress and part cuckoo clock.” Our docent never strayed out of character and she was by far very interesting to listen to telling about their life together.
The only negative aspect about the tour is that you can NOT take pictures inside the home. The experience, though, is worthy of “Five STARS on Trip Advisor.”
This home, built in the American High Gothic style, is regarded as one of the “Best Ten Homes in the World.” It became a National Historical Landmark in 1962.
Mark Twain’s neighbor was the famous author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the 19th century influential book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” That home, too, can be toured.
It was in Twain’s house that he wrote such famous works as “Huckleberry Finn,” “Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Prince and the Pauper” to name a few of his famous writings.
We found it fascinating to learn about the unique relationship Mark Twain had with his African-American butler, George Griffin. Due to financial difficulties, the home was sold and the Clemens moved to Europe. His future earnings would be giving lectures which became well loved.
The house became a school, an apartment building and a public library. The home was about to be torn down before a local non-profit group took it over. With the generosity of Hartford citizens and corporations we not only have the house, but also a museum next to it.
The extensive museum has a video to be seen. A café is associated with the museum. We loved the full-sized Lego statue of Mark Twain in the foyer.
There is also a quite large book store with many if not all of Mark Twain’s books for sale. One of his short stories was about a leaping frog contest.
Mark Twain was born on in 1835, the same year as Halley’s Comet; and he died in 1910, when Halley’s Comet came again
