Too many clouds for a perfect sunset but after a day of driving from Springfield Illinois and then…read moreexploring Hannibal, this was a great wind down. I parked the van, microwaved my leftovers from https://www.yelp.com/biz/charlie-parkers-springfield?hrid=NVt6kNo1o5xXECTgeE24jg and brought them to one of the picnic tables where I looked out over the Mighty Mississippi River. It was near perfect. It's a big park with a windy road that takes you to the various overlooks and parking areas. I think there's a bathroom here and they might have some more picnic spots. It was a great view and I'm glad I spotted the sign out front! [Review 19720 overall - 198 in Missouri - 692 of 2023.]

Beautiful. Drive thru and picnic or meditate. Walk a little trail. Has restrooms and a kids play…read morearea.

Lovers' Leap is a promontory where Native American folklore has two star-crossed lovers jumping to…read moretheir death. It makes one realize that the Romeo and Juliet story is as timeless and widespread as Cain and Able, the flood myth and Beauty and the Beast. It also allowed for some panoramic views of Hannibal, numerous barges at anchor and the island where Tom Sawyer hid out.

Was a nice picture stop before stopping in downtown Hannibal. It overlooks the Mississippi River…read moreand city of Hannibal.

When are you going to see a lighthouse in the middle of the country? This little lighthouse was…read morebuilt in 1934 to honor Mark Twain on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The picturesque lighthouse is non-functional and overlooks the Mississippi River. There is a plaque that describes the history of the lighthouse, which was dedicated in 1935 by Franklin Roosevelt. In 1960, the lighthouse was destroyed in a windstorm and rebuilt in 1963. The current building was dedicated by John Kennedy in 1963 and later renovated in 1994. You can see the lighthouse house from downtown Hannibal and climb the steep stairs to view up close. We drove up the windy road to the base where there is free parking for about a dozen cars. After ascending a short flight of steps, we were rewarded with views of the Mississippi River, downtown Hannibal and peeks of the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge. The lighthouse is not open for tours, it's just an outside visit. There is no charge to see the building. There are no amenities at the site except for a bench. The lighthouse is worth a short visit.

I'm an idiot. I saw the lighthouse high up on the hill and it never occurred to me that I could…read moreDRIVE to it. Instead, I climbed the steps from the riverside. It's a lot of steps. Thankfully, there are landings and benches along the way where I was able to catch my breath and remind myself that I need to exercise more. At the top at last, the lighthouse has a caption that points out that construction started in 1934 and was completed in less than two months. It opened in 1935 on the 100th birthday of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the most beloved son of Hannibal. The lighthouse is ornamental and not used for navigation, but it does have a light. The light was lit remotely by President Franklin D. Roosevelt from Washington DC. The steps were added in 1947 and the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1963 after a windstorm destroyed the original in 1960. It is 54 feet tall and 200 feet above the Mississippi River. There are 244 steps and I can confirm that last fact from personal experience. There is an impressive view from the top though the view from Riverview Park a mile or two from here is a bit nicer. But there's no lighthouse there. [Review 19713 overall - 191 in Missouri - 685 of 2023.]

Nice cave experience. Easy walk with good lighting. Lots of history and mix of Twain stories…read more Just under an hour and 52°. We had jeans and sweatshirts and were comfortable. I took a flashlight which was helpful but not needed. This is a huge cave and only walked 1/3 mile.

Peter was an awesome tour guide! Very funny, knowledgeable and kind. So glad he was able to give us…read morea tour. The prices in the gift shop are reasonable for very interesting things. 10/10 will be back again! Curious about their Cameron cave open in the summer The signature of Jessy James and the author Mark Twain were awesome discoveries.

Between Broadway and Center Street at the south and north, North 4th Street and North 5th Street at…read morethe west and east. this park is located in the center of downtown Hannibal. It's a pretty green space with some statues, several benches, lots of shade trees, a pretty fountain and a public restroom (that was locked today). The park is used for festivals including a farmers' market. There is street parking all around. It's a lovely space and worth a visit. [Review 19730 overall - 207 in Missouri - 702 of 2023.]

Located directly on the riverfront, Nippers Park has about a mile of handicap-accessible sidewalks…read moreand 25 benches with memorial plaques that overlook the river. Sculptures are installed including Liberte and a bronze sculpture of Mark Twain as a riverboat pilot. The 8-acre park has new sidewalks, fencing, lighting, restrooms, handicap accessibility, new stormwater utilities, a large green space for events, and a rock wall along the river. There is free parking. [Review 19726 overall - 203 in Missouri - 698 of 2023.]

Samuel Clemens grew up in Hannibal Missouri, though he wasn't using his pen name of Mark Twain at…read morethe time. He learned the trade of riverboat pilot, earning his pilot's license in 1859 at the age of 23. Clemens had signed on as a pilot's apprentice in 1857 while on his way to Mississippi. He had been commissioned to write a series of comic travel letters for the Keokuk Daily Post, but after writing five, decided he'd rather be a pilot than a writer. He piloted his own boats for two years, until the Civil War halted steamboat traffic. Have a read at one autobiographical chapter: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1875/03/old-times-on-the-mississippi-part-iii/537831/ The caption with this statue of Train reads, "In 1857 young Samuel Clemens began to learn the trade of a steamboat pilot on the Lower Mississippi River. When his piloting career ended with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Clemens went to Nevada Territory where he first used pen name Mark Twin in 1863 while writing for the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City. Clemens took the name 'Mark Twain' from the River sounding that indicated 12 feet of water which was safe for navigation. This statue was given to the City of Hannibal by the Schwartz Family of East Hannibal, Illinois, July 4, 2003." The statue is located in Riverfront Park where there is plenty of free parking. [Review 19723 overall - round number 200 in Missouri - 695 of 2023.]