The "Twain on Main" festival is one of the highlights each spring in downtown Hannibal, Missouri, Mark Twain's boyhood hometown. The newest addition on Main Street (just before the lighthouse and the Tom & Huck statue) is the John Michael Originals furniture gallery. I absolutely adore his style. Sadly, the shop was closed yesterday.
The recently renovated building called the "Moses Bates Public House" was named after the founding father of Hannibal. It also has a new restaurant in back with seating available on top. The exposed brick and pipe works in the restaurant showcase the original structure of the building, which started out manufacturing and installing truck beds for Model T Ford delivery trucks. The most recent business was Murphy's Motors, a Dodge dealership. Now the furniture store and unbeatable smoked bbq eatery will keep this place in business for a long time.
Did I mention the red doors, corrugated metal and chalk board walls inside the bathroom? Did I mention I had the privilege of eating there over the weekend with my hubby for our anniversary? Our anniversary is actually today. Maybe I can convince him to go again. Next time, I will be dining in the outdoor area above so I can take pics of the Mississippi River only a few feet away.
During the festival, there were plenty of other food options on the street. I have no clue what a "roller dawg" is, so if you know, please tell me!
What festival wouldn't be complete without a petting zoo and pony rides? My five-year-old experienced her first pony ride. Afterwards, she said, "I'd like to do that again." Oh dear. Is this the start of a little girl's obsession with horses?!
Games with Tom and Becky in Twain's sideyard was a big hit. 
Art vendors, the main attraction, lined the streets with everything from homemade soap and linens to clay pottery people, metal works, leather crafts, and jewelry. I discovered a Mark Twain leather bound notebook, my favorite find of the day.Main Street was divided into thirds: Roughin' It, The Prince and the Pauper, and Tom Sawyer, all areas designed after three of Twain's novels. Although, the only one that was super obvious was the Roughin' It section. The others tended to blend with the mob on Main Street.
Over four blocks of wall to wall people for this year's Twain on Main festival. Until the next festival...or next post...Thanks for stopping by!
That looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! I say you go back and eat there again today.
Cook out today. Maybe tonight!
DeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteNo pictures of the bathroom???
I have them somewhere! My five-year-old was with me, so I was kind of distracted. She did get to write her name:)
DeleteHappy Anniversary, that's amazing!! Such fun pictures, I'm seriously dying to visit Hannibal.
ReplyDeleteAww! It really is a unique town with some great festivals:)
DeleteThat sounds like a fun festival. Wish I could go! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary!!!
And I have the same complaint as C.D. where are the bathroom pictures? :P
Thanks! But wait, there's more...festivals...every month. Yes, I will have to post them next time!
DeleteWow, that sounds like a lot of fun. And we share an anniversary date, how cool is that? Congrats to you and your hubby, thanks for visiting my blog and your good wishes.
ReplyDeleteAnniversary twins!
DeleteWhat would any town gathering be if a petting zoo wasn't a part of it. Kids love that. So do I.
ReplyDeleteI do too! The alpaca looked annoyed when I was snapping pics of him.
DeleteHappy Anniversary. The best dining is waterfront dining.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The levee blocks the lower half from viewing the Big River, so next time I'm going to eat on the second floor balcony.
DeleteHappy Anniversary! I love that old building. It's amazing to imagine they used to manufacture parts for Model T Fords there. Eating there would be like being in your own "wayback" time machine! lol I'm glad you had fun -- thanks for sharing the great pics! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Just when I think I've explored every inch of this town, something new (er, old) pops up. I couldn't stop staring at the walls. I took one picture of the inside that didn't turn out (glare from a window). But I promise to post the bathroom pics soon.
DeleteSounds like a fun day. Yeah, we let our daughter ride a pony when she was four at a zoo and she's still asking when she can do it again. Sadly, we don't live near that zoo anymore, but maybe a horseback riding camp will be in her future.
ReplyDeleteWe live 2 hours away from the St. Louis Zoo, but we do have a horse farm riding facility near our house. Maybe when she gets older!
DeleteSounds like a fun day. Yeah, we let our daughter ride a pony when she was four at a zoo and she's still asking when she can do it again. Sadly, we don't live near that zoo anymore, but maybe a horseback riding camp will be in her future.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to bring the family up for the festival next year. Is this where they do the whitewashing contest?
ReplyDeleteSounds great! No, they will have the white washing fence contest this July 3rd at 4pm for the National Tom Sawyer Days festival.
DeleteHope you had a great anniversary. That looks like a nice place to visit!
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun! I love festivals and this one sounds amazing!! How fun that you got to eat at that cool restaurant with your hubby! Happy belated anniversary!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, how fun! I love festivals and this one sounds amazing!! How fun that you got to eat at that cool restaurant with your hubby! Happy belated anniversary!! :)
ReplyDeleteYikes. Sounds like fun. I'm not too fond of wall-to-wall people, though! Happy belated anniversary!
ReplyDeleteGreat event and love the pics. Happy anniversary week.
ReplyDelete