Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
4.5
About
Nothing says “Missouri literature” like Mark Twain. And nothing says “Mark Twain was here” like the state historic site that bears his name. Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site has the two-room rented cabin Samuel Clemens – Twain’s real name – was born in, first editions of many of the author’s works, a handwritten manuscript of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and many of the furnishings from Twain’s Connecticut home. The site also has a public reading room for personal study and research.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
41 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
19
Average
3
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1
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0
Donna W
Fallston, MD204 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This place was a bit off the beaten path, but worth the drive. You'll see the actual house Twain was born in, plus a small museum that contains a lot of info about Twain. And it's free!
Written September 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LittlePaint
Urbandale, IA738 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
.. on our way elsewhere and saw this on the map and decided to detour. Glad we did.
Driving through the park was scenic (even in January!) but Mark Twain's birthplace was our focus. It's not a huge museum, but it's packed with knowledge and information. Seeing his home was impressive...that such a great and humble man came from such meager beginnings. But the experiences he had with his friends and family were what shaped him into the writer he came to be. It was worth getting off the beaten path for a short while.
Driving through the park was scenic (even in January!) but Mark Twain's birthplace was our focus. It's not a huge museum, but it's packed with knowledge and information. Seeing his home was impressive...that such a great and humble man came from such meager beginnings. But the experiences he had with his friends and family were what shaped him into the writer he came to be. It was worth getting off the beaten path for a short while.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia K
Westville, IN4,086 contributions
Jun 2022
We stopped at the museum. It's free & we wandered around. Nice exhibits. A small gift area.
There's a short trail to a nice lookout. There's a picnic table there, so you can have a fantastic view as you eat.
There's also a fishing pond that's very peaceful.
Hang a right as you leave to the small town of Florida. They have a log cabin & some information boards about Mark Twain's birthplace.
There's a short trail to a nice lookout. There's a picnic table there, so you can have a fantastic view as you eat.
There's also a fishing pond that's very peaceful.
Hang a right as you leave to the small town of Florida. They have a log cabin & some information boards about Mark Twain's birthplace.
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peterglassman
Schaumburg, IL212 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
This place is about a 45 minute drive from Hannibal, Mo. In Hannibal you will see his boyhood home, but he wasn't born there, he was born in Florida, MO. The house is original but it is not in the original location, it has been moved. The house is enclosed in a futuristic looking structure to protect it but it looks out of place. An adjoining museum has very good displays and a very good 24 minute video. Everything is free. There is a marker about a mile away in town that marks the original location, as long as you are there you should stop to see the marker. Not sure why they didn't keep everything in the original location but I'm sure they had a reason. If you have the time it is worth making the drive from Hannibal.
Written July 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TexasTravelerGoGo
Santa Fe, NM320 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
This historic site is located within the Mark Twain State Park and is co-located with the Visitor Center. It houses the cabin where Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) was born. The cabin has been moved from the tiny town of Florida, a couple of miles away. (There is still a marker in Florida at the original site of the cabin.) There are exhibits, that are well done, about Samuel's childhood and his adult life. There is a worthwhile 24 minute video, available on demand, about his life. This attraction is a worthwhile way to spend an hour or so.
Written June 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CARL H
Mexico, MO678 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
On the West side of Mark Twain lake in the once vibrant village of Florida is the home to the birthplace museum.
The museum, while small contains the Clemens family home and many period artifacts and historical information.
The grounds include a scenic picnic area overlooking the lake...
Walk the Florida trail and you will most likely see many deer and other wild life.
Visit Buzzards Roost scenic overlook built by the CCC long before there was a Mark Twain LAKE...
You will enjoy this beautiful area...oo
See ya down the road... .. .O o- Carl (BC Mayor..=)~
The museum, while small contains the Clemens family home and many period artifacts and historical information.
The grounds include a scenic picnic area overlooking the lake...
Walk the Florida trail and you will most likely see many deer and other wild life.
Visit Buzzards Roost scenic overlook built by the CCC long before there was a Mark Twain LAKE...
You will enjoy this beautiful area...oo
See ya down the road... .. .O o- Carl (BC Mayor..=)~
Written September 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Calvin L
Saint Joseph, MO169 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
Don't leave the area without visiting here,
Very well maintained, Very pleasant and helpful people
So much history, well presented in an interesting way, and FREE
Don't hesitate to Leave a generous donation, You'll agree after your visit
Very well maintained, Very pleasant and helpful people
So much history, well presented in an interesting way, and FREE
Don't hesitate to Leave a generous donation, You'll agree after your visit
Written September 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda Dombkowski
Blue Springs, MO413 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Mark Twain's birthplace is preserved inside a museum at the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site located near Florida, MO near Mark Twain State Park. There is no cost for admission. The museum is full of artifacts from Mark Twain's past including furniture, clothing, the home of his birth, and tools which were used during that time period. It is really a fun place to visit where history comes to life.
Written September 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saiza
Lees Summit417 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
This museum is very small, with only two rooms. One of the rooms has Mark Twain's actual birth home inside; and the other is a museum with a 24 minute video about him. The cabin is furnished with items from that time period, and there are some furnishings from his house in Connecticut. It's a cool, informative little museum you should check out. There wasn't a fee for the museum, only donations.
Written May 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael V
Mexico, MO66 contributions
It is an awsome place where one can find the true history of Mark Twain. You'll learn where he picked up his famous pen name and what it means to river boat captains. The only down side if there is one is that it could use a facelift. Definately a must see if you are nearby.
Written September 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rene S
Sussex, WI5 contributions
Is the museum "hike-able" from the campground? We will be in a truck camper and don't want to have to break camp if it's a good distance.
Iluv2travel059
St. Louis, MO267 contributions
You would need to walk along the shoulder of Route 107, a two laned road with shoulders that has a 55 mph speed limit, and includes a bridge over an arm of Mark Twain Lake. I would estimate the portion of 107 would be three miles. The portion of road is mostly flat and is typically NOT a high volume traffic area. I suggest looking on Google Earth to get a better idea.
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