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3 years ago

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Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse - Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, Hannibal

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse

5.0(2 reviews)
44.1 mi

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.]

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Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse - Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, Hannibal

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, Hannibal

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse - Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, Hannibal

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, Hannibal

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse

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Union Covered Bridge - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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