About 150 years ago, legendary American author, Samuel Clemens 鈥� better known as Mark Twain 鈥� was one of the biggest stars in the world.
The author of such works as 鈥淭he Adventures of Tom Sawyer鈥� and 鈥淎 黑料吃瓜网 Yankee in King Arthur鈥檚 Court鈥� traveled the world for throughout his life. To this day in Sydney, Australia, commemorates Twain鈥檚 visit there in the 1890s.
鈥淚f he were a singer instead of a writer, it would be Taylor Swift. He was the Taylor Swift of his day,鈥� explained Michael Campbell, interim executive director of the Mark Twain House and Museum.
Celebrating with a party
Twain famously settled and built a house in Hartford. Today, that house remains a testament to Twain鈥檚 enduring legacy, now serving as the Mark Twain House and Museum.
To celebrate the house鈥檚 150th anniversary, the museum hosted a
鈥淲e had a big party, and it was a huge success,鈥� Campbell said.
Looking ahead, the museum is planning a new exhibit that will take visitors beyond the house and into the city that Twain loved.
鈥淲e鈥檙e setting up an exhibit in Hartford outlining the many places that Mark Twain frequented,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e expanding the Mark Twain house and taking over the whole place.鈥�
With a mobile app in development, visitors will soon be able to explore Hartford through Twain鈥檚 eyes, making the author鈥檚 presence felt throughout the city.
Twain's Hartford connection
But how did Mark Twain, a man who traveled extensively throughout his life, choose to settle in Hartford?
Campbell pointed out that Twain鈥檚 publisher was based in the city and that played a major role. Twain also fell in love with the city鈥檚 charm.
鈥淗e described Hartford as the most beautiful city he had ever seen, and this guy really traveled a lot,鈥� Campbell noted.
Twain wasn鈥檛 alone in his admiration for Hartford. He moved to the historic , home to other luminaries like author and actor . It was in this vibrant cultural community that Twain would pen some of his greatest works, including 鈥淭he Adventures of Tom Sawyer鈥� and 鈥淭he Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.鈥�
A house that sparked curiosity
The Twain family鈥檚 house, built in the mid-1870s, became in Hartford, drawing attention even while it was under construction.
鈥淧eople all around Hartford and the surrounding communities came to the Mark Twain house even while it was being built, just to get an idea as to what Mark Twain was doing in their town,鈥� Campbell recalled.
Today, Campbell said visitors from all 50 states and over 60 countries make the pilgrimage to see this whimsical, multifaceted home.
Twain鈥檚 timeless appeal
Campbell said interest in the Mark Twain House and Museum endures because of Twain鈥檚 timeless appeal.
鈥淗e鈥檚 contemporary in whatever time he is in,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淏ack in when this house was built, [and] all through the last century-and-a half, the things that he said, the things that he wrote, all really mattered, and people refer to him all the time now, too.鈥�
