Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, spent his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River, where he became familiar with the riverboat passengers and crews. While growing up, he rode on rafts and hid in a nearby cave. His pen name comes from river lingo meaning two fathoms (or 12 feet) deep, a depth that generally indicates safe passage for riverboats.
Twain’s childhood home, which is now open to the public for tours, is a charming two-story cottage with shuttered windows. The white garden fence along its side yard was likely a source of inspiration for the character Tom Sawyer conniving to have his friends whitewash the fence boards for him.
Across from the Clemens place is the former home of Twain’s childhood friend Laura,…
