The First Museum

“In 1935 Hannibal celebrated the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain’s birth. A year-long celebration started on January 15 and ran through November. Many books and other memorabilia were assembled and displayed in the lobby of a bank building as the first Mark Twain Museum. This proved popular and a permanent location was desired, so the federal Works Progress Administration or WPA, built this stone building. The first floor was the museum, and the second floor housed the caretaker who moved out of the Boyhood Home, allowing more of the home to be open for visitors. Today, this houses one of the museum gift stores.”