Mark Twain House!

What Is the Mark Twain House?

This is where Samuel Clemens (“Mark Twain”) lived with his family for 17 years and wrote his most famous works!

What Makes It Historical?

While most folks associate the work of Mark Twain with Missouri and California, his most famous work originated here in Hartford! He fell in love with the city in 1868 when he came here to meet with Elisha Bliss, president of the American Publishing Company, about his latest book, The Innocents Abroad. It was that travel-themed book that funded his move here, with his new wife, Olivia, in 1873 and paid for the construction of this house! Edward Tuckerman Potter was the designer, but Mr. Clemens had lots of input. He wanted it to be multicolored, asymmetrical, kind of medieval and kind of like a steamboat. He wanted tin on the roof so he could hear the rain properly, and he wanted a window over the dining room fireplace so he could see snowflakes on fire! His elderly neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe, designed his conservatory and would sometimes wander in just to play the piano!

Here in this house, all three Clemens daughters were born: Susy, Clara, and Jean! Also in this house, mosty around the billiard room, Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court among others! He made a fortune from his writing, but nearly lost it all through investments, first in the Paige typesetting machine, then in his publishing house, Charles L. Webster and Company. These bad investments forced the Clemens family to leave their Hartford home in 1891, and they spent nine whole years hopping among France, Germany, Italy, and England while Mr. Twain did speaking engagements to regain his lost fortune! Speaking engagements carried them back to the USA in 1900, and he continued lecturing until Halley’s Comet (which was visible when he was born) returned in 1910. As it went, so did the legendary author!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
Volunteer at the Mark Twain House & Museum!
Donate to the Mark Twain House & Museum!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!