Taylor:

     My wife and I make the occasional pilgrimage to Florida and
Hannibal, and, yes, I would recommend the trip, even from Canada.
In Columbia, Missouri we are only an hour and a half from Florida
and two hours from Hannibal.  In addition to what the others have
mentioned already, I would suggest after spending time in the Mark
Twain Museum, where the Clemens cabin was moved to, that you
actually drive the extra mile to what is left of Florida and the
original site of the cabin.  There are four old broken down
buildings, two still occupied houses, a little park and marker
where the house actually stood and a rebuilt log cabin further back
in the park.  It doesn't seem like much, really, but to a Twain
fanatic, I enjoyed just standing there and wondering around for a
time.
     Also, as others have mentioned, you need to take in Hannibal
with a sense of ironic humor.  Every hotel, shop, bar, street,
drugstore, dog and cat is named for a Twainian character or
nameplace, all bent on selling you Mark Twain postcards and t-
shirts, Becky and Tom taffy, and Huck Finn used cars (ahem).  In
the right state of mind, it all becomes great fun.  I can always
just hear the old fellow cackling and see him smirking at what
the town has become.
     While in Hannibal, don't forget to tour some of those
Victorian mansions already mentioned.  Rockcliff Mansion, at 1000
Bird Street, is best and the Garth Woodside Mansion, just out of
town, is worth the trip. I could go on, but just send for the
Visitor's Guide from the Hannibal Visitors & Convention Bureau, 320
Broadway, P.O. Box 624, Hannibal, MO 63401, or call 314-221-2477.

Michael O'Conner
University of Missouri