Mark Twain’s close ties with the New England area makes it an appropriate location to feature two new museum exhibitions. At 17-years-old, the man who was then Samuel Clemens left the Midwest for New York to become a journeyman printer. His writing flourished in the years he spent living in New England. The Missouri-born Samuel Clemens died in Connecticut as the beloved American author and humorist Mark Twain (pictured).
The Morgan Library & Museum showcases an impressive exhibit entitled Mark Twain: A Skeptic’s Progress. Several original manuscripts are on display including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Life on the Mississippi, and Following the Equator. Viewers will also see some of Twain’s personal items such as a fountain pen, a pair of glasses, and a board game he invented when he was trying to avoid bankruptcy due to poor investment decisions.
Within the tri-state area, people can visit the Twain House located in Hartford, Connecticut. It has recently undergone a complete restoration. Twain has been quoted to say that his happiest years with his wife and children were spent in the Hartford house. (Via the New York Times)
For the outdoorsy types, a New York Times article plots out an east coast tour of Twain-related spots. In New York City alone, Twain wrote, lived, and gave speeches at various places including midtown’s Century Association, the East Village’s Cooper Union, and Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church. A few hours away, visitors can also see his grave site in Elmira, NY which was the location of the Twain country home, Quarry Farm. The farm itself welcomes visits from Mark Twain scholars.