Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse — Attraction in Hannibal

I'm an idiot. I saw the lighthouse high up on the hill and it never occurred to me that I could DRIVE 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...

Mark Twain Lighthouse Hannibal MO:

First, this beautiful and picturesque site is at the top of an 11 degree grade so drive up to it or be physically fit and take the heart attack challenge 🤣.

The lighthouse itself is 54 feet tall and 200 feet above the Mississippi River.  There are 244 steps and it was official lit in 1934 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This is actually the second lighthouse to sit in this spot since in 1960 a wind storm destroyed the original.  In 1963 the newly built second lighthouse was lit by President John F. Kennedy.

However you choose to get up to it, the view is worth your time.   The lighthouse is not in actual use (nor was it ever meant to be) but instead was built as a memorial to Mark Twains 100th birthday and represents his years as a boat pilot on the...

Beautiful views of the river and town of Hannibal. The lighthouse sits on top of Cardiff Hill which was supposed to be a favorite spot for Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and friends. The walk up the steps from the very bottom street which is the north end of Main Street, is strenuous at 244 steps, but there is parking near the top. There is also a rear entrance from Cardiff Hill Drive, which offers handicapped accessible parking. The lighthouse area offers a very panoramic view with photo ops of Hannibal and the Mississippi River. The lighthouse was built in 1935 as a memorial to Mark Twain on his 100th birthday and it is the second to be built on this site. In 1963 a windstorm leveled the old lighthouse and it was...