The Mark Twain House
A Brief History of the Mark Twain House and its Current Plight
The House
The Mark Twain House, located in Hartford, Connecticut, was completed in 1874. The 19-room, Victorian-style mansion is characterized by complicated gables, many chimneys, and a Southern-style wrap-around porch. Some have even referred to the house's architechtual style as "steamboat Gothic."
When Twain moved into the house, he and his wife Olivia had already lost one child: their son Langdon, who died at the age of two. The couple went on to have three more children, Susy, Clara, and Jean, who lived in the Hartford home with them. Twain would eventually outlive not only his wife, but Susy and Jean as well. He would also suffer financial hardships, making it difficult to maintain his luxurious home.
When one considers the home's amenities, it is not surprising that its upkeep was so costly. For one thing, decorators from Tiffany & Co. were commissioned to work on the house, and as a result, much of the home's wallpaper and woodwork, as well as a stained glass window and a beautiful ornamental fireplace, all bear the Tiffany stamp.
The home also includes an intercom system, styled after the intercoms used on boats at the time, as well as one of the first telephones ever installed in a private residence. The Twains even had seven flush toilets at a time when most people didn't have access to one.
The Mark Twain House was opened to the public in 1974. Since then, tour groups have been led everywhere from the Twain library to the school room where the children practiced their studies. Of course, a few changes have been made since the Twains lived in the house; it is now includes a gift shop and an air-conditioning system.
The Problem
It was not until recently that the house ran into major trouble. In 2003, an additional wing was built to house a new Mark Twain Musuem. The wing was an arguably ill-concieved endevour. Admission to the house is relatively inexpensive ($14 for adults, $8 for children, $5 per child for school trips) and, in spite of funding provided by the Greater Hartford Art Council's United Arts campaign and the Aetna foundation, the millions of dollars spent on the new wing have been difficult to make back. (Although admittedly, the number of visitors to the house has increased by 15% since the museum opened, at least according to Wikipedia.com.)
Now the Mark Twain House is in danger of being closed to the public altogether, which would be a shame, not only for Connecticut residents, but for the entire country. After all, Mark Twain remains one of the greatest, most influential authors and humorists that America has even known.
The Solution
Everyone has the power to help support this landmark. One simple solution is becoming a Mark Twain House and Museum Member. Membership starts at $50 for Connecticut residents and $40 for out-of-state residents. Membership comes with many benefits, including unlimited free museum visits and access to members-only events. Also, one-time donations or "Dollars for Twain" are currently being accepted via the Mark Twain House website.
Also, teachers can plan Mark Twain House field trips for their students, and every person reading this article can plan his or her own trip to the house. Parking is free, and tours are provided with the cost of admission.
With these simple steps, everyone can help to save the Mark Twain House. This national treasure can, and should, be preserved for generations to come.
