May 16 Lincoln Library, Hannibal, Mark Twain

 Friday, May 16

Left Carlinville and headed for Springfield and the Lincoln Library and Museum.   Drippy weather again and chilly in the 40’s. Lots of farmland, some rolling hills.

 Stopped at McDonalds for a little breakfast and wi-fi, then easily found the museum.

Beautiful building in downtown Springfield.  It is divided into several areas – 1^st one dedicated to his birth through the presidential race,^nd  area was about the white house years, the civil war and his death. Another area contained personal correspondence and memorabilia. 

There were  also two theaters, the first showing a film about his life and times.  It used shaking seats, puffs of “smoke”, split screens and other features to keep things interesting.  The second was called Ghosts in the Library .  The stage setting was the Lincoln presidential library and a librarian dressed in period garb explained how the library works and the kinds of things they have there.  It used holograms to bring in various characters like Lincoln, Civil War soldiers, the Lincoln children, etc. , ending with the dissolution of the “librarian” who we finally realize is also a ghost. Both were excellent.

We spent close to three hours.   A light rain was still falling when we exited,  so we headed west, back to the Mississippi and Hannibal, Missouri, Mark Twain country!  

The Mark Twain Interpretive Center is one street over from the Mississippi, in Hannibal,. It explains Samuel Clemens impoverished youth, career as printer’s devil, steamboat captain, journalist, lecturer and  author.  There are details about the people of Hannibal that Twain based many of his characters on – like friends Tom Bankenship and Laura Hawkins who appear as Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher.  Their homes in Hannibal are part of the tour.

   The last building  is the Gallery, where there are displays including some readings or movie snippets about several of Twain’s books, including Life on the Mississippi, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.  

Upstairs there was a collection of Norman Rockwell paintings, as he was the illustrator for both Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. At 4:00 there was an annimated performance by Jim Waddell, speaking as Mark Twain. 

He spoke mainly about the Civil War and Missouri, and of course Twain’s activities of the time. Some humor but fairly serious story-telling. 

We hiked up a steep hill to a lighthouse that overlooks the Mississippi. 

Then back to the Trek, we talked with Mom and decided to support the local Kiwanas Club, who was having a pork chip dinner fundraiser right across the street.  Friendly folks, good food!  We set out for a nearby Lowe’s for the night.

Scratch 'n' sniff of the day:  More lilacs - I love them, can you tell?