I am posting this on behalf of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. Please direct queries to the e-mail address at the end of this message. Thank you. K.B. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fellow Mark Twain Forum Members, On behalf of The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, I would like to invite you to attend a celebration at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 30, in Hannibal, Missouri, to formally open new exhibits at the Mark Twain Museum. The Mark Twain Home Foundation in Hannibal, Missouri, has begun the process of changing the interpretation through the Mark Twain Museum properties. The former Museum Annex, now our Interpretative Center, has new exhibits with two central themes. The first looks at Sam Clemens in Hannibal, the real person and his experiences. The Interpretive Center experience concludes in a room that mirrors the look of Twain's octagonal study. Here scenes from Hannibal are overlaid on images from Twain's fiction, illustrating the artful way Clemens used his childhood experiences and memories in Hannibal to shape and create his fiction. From the Interpretative Center, one proceeds to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home, where new Interpretive elements have been added. A nearly life-size white figure of Twain inhabits each room. Visitors feel like they are accompanying Twain as he returns to visit his boyhood home in his thoughts, reminiscing about his childhood and remarkable adult life. Quotes on panels behind the figures leave visitors thinking about their own childhood and memories, as well as those of Twain. Beginning at 9:30 am, craftsmen will be demonstrating a variety of historic crafts. Food vendors will satisfy appetites. Special activities are planned well into the afternoon. From 1:00 to 3:00 the museum will host a book signing featuring Dr. Louis Budd, Dr. James Cox, Dr. Susan Harris and Dr. Thomas Quirk. The following books will be available at the Mark Twain Museum Store for purchase and signing: Mark Twain: Social Philosopher by Louis Budd Mark Twain: The Fate of Humor by James Cox The Courtship of Olivia Langdon and Mark Twain by Susan Harris Adventures of Huckleberry Finn co-edited by Susan Harris Coming to Grips with Huckleberry Finn by Thomas Quirk The Portable Mark twain edited by Thomas Quirk Copies of any of these may be ordered by e-mail, and autographs secured by contacting the museum office at [log in to unmask] The above e-mail address may be used to request any additional details or information. Henry Sweets, Curator Mark Twain Museum Hannibal, Missouri