I was lucky enough years ago when I last visited Florida MO to have known the previous caretaker, John, and given the privilege to go into the birth home. That was a thrill I will never forget :) Jules -----Original Message----- From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of =?windows-1252?Q?Kent_Rasmussen?= Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 6:21 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: A date to remember Thanks for that, Kevin. I figured you might reply. When I wrote my=20 original note, I was thinking of your terrific presentation on Stormfield= =20 at Elmira and recalled your discussion of Clara's rooms. Not much mystery about the room in which Mark Twain himself was born. The= =20 recent Hannibal conference included a visit to the Mark Twain Birthplace=20= Museum in Florida, where the house in which he was born is preserved. We=20= could actually touch the outside of the house and stick our heads in it=20= through the windows and doorways. The two-room house is so small, people=20= reaching in through the windows on opposite sides could practically shake= =20 hands. Incidentally, we also visited the original site of the house. Not=20= much to see there now, but it was exciting merely to be at the site. (Mar= k=20 Twain warn't kidding when he described Florida as "nearly invisible."=20 According to Henry, the town's present population is zero. Anyone born=20= there now would increase the population by a a great deal more than 1=20 percent.)