Mark Twain Riverboat Company

A river cruise is always on our list of what to do whenever we are near water. Add in a narrative of the history behind the sights on shore and we’re on board.

The Mark Twain Riverboat Co. is a family-owned business founded in 1997. They took us on a unique riverboat cruise on the Mighty Mississippi River. They pointed out Pearl Island, also known as Glasscock Island on the Ohio side of the river. Apparently, it was once considered part of Hannibal, Missouri.

We passed Shuck Island and Tower Island, which Mark Twain called Jackson’s Island in his book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, got up close to the bridge, and gazed up at the Rockcliffe Mansion, and lighthouse from the river.

The barges are what amazed me the most on the river. During our boat cruise in St. Louis, we learned the newer barges measure up to 209 feet by 50 feet and can hold up to nearly 3,000 tons of cargo, while the older barges are 195 feet by 35 feet. The largest bulk item transported upstream is petroleum shipped from the oil fields in Texas and Louisiana. Various grains are shipped downstream to New Orleans and transferred to ocean vessels.

According to Iowa DOT, one barge is the equivalent of 16 rail cars or 70 large semis/tractor trailers. No wonder oil producers and farmers depend on the Mississippi River barges to get their products to market.

The Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise offers two daily cruises: a one-hour sightseeing cruise, and a two-hour evening cruise with dinner and entertainment. Keep in mind that if the water level is significantly higher or lower than ten feet, it could put a crimp in the ship’s schedule.

When planning our trip to Missouri, I had contemplated taking the American or Viking River Cruise up the Mississippi. I’m glad we toured on our own by land. We spent days exploring Hannibal instead of the few hours the big cruise lines offer at any one stop. Maybe someday we’ll take a Viking River cruise in Europe. For now, we’ll cruise on land.

Lover’s Leap Park and Overlook

The narrator on the riverboat cruise pointed out this outcropping atop a bluff on the south side of town. The five-acre park is called Lover’s Leap and has great views of the river and town. A plaque details the legend behind Lover’s Leap.

One version of the legend asserts the daughter of the Fox’s tribe and an Illini brave were deeply in love. After multiple warnings to stop seeing each other, they were discovered together by the Fox chief one night on the cliff. Although the couple leaped from the cliff and survived the jump, it is not recommended that others take the plunge. A different version of the legend claims a more dire ending.

Another plaque placed by the Continental Cement Company in May 2002, dedicated a lighted American flag as a remembrance to September 11, 2001.

Sodalis Nature Preserve

The Sodalis Nature Preserve was an interesting find. Not only does this 200-acre park preserve the bat population, it also provides recreation for the community.

This limestone mine, which was closed for about 50 years, is now home to approximately 1/3 of all known Myotis Sodalist bats, also known as Indiana bats, and has the distinct honor as the largest hibernation site for a rare bat. Endangered gray bats, northern long-eared bats, and other species also call the mine home during hibernation.

Soon after the bat discovery in 2012, the city acquired the mine site and installed gates at 33 mine entrances. Then they developed the surrounding area as a park with walking, hiking, and biking trails for visitors.

Visitors will find a 2-mile fully paved loop trail that connects to the Bear Creek Trail. There is also a viewable amphitheater to watch the nightly bat emergence from mid-April to the end of September.

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse

The Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse beckoned us from the mansion, the riverboat cruise, and other parts of the city. While Tom and the gang scrambled up the side of the cliff, we had the luxury of climbing 244 steps to the top.

Once there, we noticed a road could have taken us all the way with only a short trail to the lighthouse. That was fine with me. I prefer steps anyway. Jon’s not much of a fan, although he followed my lead. I eyeballed the trail to the parking area at the top and had to see where it went. And the views around the structure and along the trail were as spectacular as those on Lover’s Leap.

The Lighthouse park encompasses 10-acres at the top of Cardiff Hill. This is a place where you can imagine the likes of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and the gang hanging out and exploring.

The original lighthouse was built in 1935 as a memorial to Mark Twain on his 100^th birthday. After a windstorm destroyed it in 1960, it was rebuilt in 1963.

Becky Thatcher’s Diner

We couldn’t leave town without breakfast at Becky Thatcher’s Diner. Themed diners can turn out a hit or a miss. Lucky for us, the delicious corned beef hash told us Becky’s diner was a hit.

We enjoyed our visit to Hannibal, Missouri, and are glad we stopped and explored for the few days we were there. I admire and commend the City of Hannibal for preserving the history, folklore, and nature of the place. The community has much more to offer than what a cheap tourist trap might have presented.

Next Up: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa

Safe Travels