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Visiting Mark Twain’s Study {Elmira, New York}

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure statement for details.

October 19, 2016 Shannon Schmid 12 Comments

This year our family traveled to upstate, New York – and we were blown away by all there is to both see and do in this beautiful region of the country! Not only is upstate New York incredibly beautiful, it also has an incredible history. And while “upstate” New York cities like Corning, and Watkins Glen are fabulous family friendly vacation trips, you would be remiss – if you didn’t also make a stop in the historic city of Elmira.

And one of the most impressive parts of Elmira’s history, is that it’s where celebrated author Mark Twain lived, and wrote many of his classic books!

And what better way to get some insight into Mark Twain and his literary genius, than to visit his famous Study?

mark-twain_study

Mark Twain’s connection to Elmira, New York first started when Twain’s friend showed him a photograph of his sister. Mark Twain must have felt something very special when he saw that photograph of Olivia Langdon – because it started a whirlwind courtship! In 1870 that passionate courtship turned into marriage. And subsequently, the Twain family spent more than twenty summers in Elmira.

In fact, Mark Twain called Elmira “a foretaste of heaven…”

In order to give Twain a quiet space to write, the octagonal study was built and perched upon a hill at Quarry Farm. The Study was built to resemble a Mississippi steamboat pilot house, and the green and blue rolling hills below must have looked very much like the waves of a great river, from Twain’s vantage point!

The Mark Twain Study, is where Twain wrote literary classics including – Roughing It, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, A Tramp Abroad, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and many other works as well!

marktwain_elmira-college

The Mark Twain Study was named the “#1 Literary Attraction in America” by USA Today! And I’m not at all surprised.

You really get a sense of Twain as soon as you step inside. Being in the same spot that so many beloved literary masterpieces were written is truly a humbling experience. And you also get the feeling that Twain was so much more than an author. Seeing photos of him with his precious family is heartwarming. And seeing his iconic cigars laying on a study table, and the simplicity of the space – conjurs up such vivid images of Mark Twain in his element!

The picturesque campus of Elmira College is now home to Mark Twain’s Study, and it also houses the Center for Mark Twain Studies. Visitors can get a close up view of historic artifacts from Quarry Farm, the Langdon family mansion, or view photographs and media covering Twain’s life and times.

marktwain_me_study

The easiest way to see Mark Twain Country including the Twain study, and his final resting place – is to take advantage of the Trolley into Twain Country tour that runs seasonally.

Board an authentic trolley and learn all about Elmira’s historic districts, including Civil War sites, and Elmira’s connection to the Underground Railroad.

During times of the year that the Trolley is not running, the Mark Twain Study is open by appointment. And Woodlawn Cemetery (where Twain was buried) also keeps regular visiting hours. While Woodlawn National Cemetery is also home to several other notable historic figures, it is the Twain Family graves that touch me most deeply.

mark-twain-grave

It’s not unusual for visitors to leave cigars on Mark Twain’s grave, or flowers by the graves of his beloved family. Mark Twain along with much celebration in the literary world, also endured much heartbreak in his personal life.

And it’s the writing that Twain put on his young daughter Olivia Susan “Susy” Clemens grave, that I find perhaps most moving – and that humanizes Mark Twain for me the most.

“Warm summer sun
shine brightly here,
Warm Southern wind
blow softly here,
Green sod above
lie light, lie light,
Good night, dear heart;
good night, good night.”

The connection to Mark Twain, is just one of many reasons to visit Elmira, New York! For more information on visiting historic Mark Twain sites, as well as other attractions in the Elmira area: http://www.marktwaincountry.com/

Plan your Trip:

Trolley into Twain Country:http://www.marktwaincountry.com/mark-twain/trolley-into-twain-country-tours

Woodlawn National Cemetary: http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/woodlawn.asp

Elmira College: http://www.elmira.edu/

For other posts about visiting Mark Twain Country, check back soon!

 

 

 

Special thanks to the Chemung Chamber of Commerce for hosting our visit.

About Shannon Schmid

Shannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.

You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.

Related posts:

5 Places to go with Kids in Buffalo New York! 6 Reasons to Visit the Corning Museum of Glass! Single Island Shores {Where to stay on Seneca Lake} The Best BBQ in Upstate New York!

Elmira, Family Travel, General, New York General

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Comments

  1. Jennifer H says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    I think educational trips for families and kids are important. This sounds like a really neat experience.

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:56 am

      @Jennifer H, I agree Jennifer!

      Reply
  2. Leah says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    Love this! I would love to see this!

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:57 am

      @Leah, It is really cool to be able to go right inside!

      Reply
  3. Holly Duce says

    October 20, 2016 at 12:31 am

    How cool! What a neat place to visit!

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:58 am

      @Holly Duce, Yes! Great family trip!

      Reply
  4. Allison says

    October 20, 2016 at 7:36 am

    What a fun trip! I would love to take my family here!

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:58 am

      @Allison, Plan it Allison! So fun!

      Reply
  5. Denise says

    October 20, 2016 at 8:26 am

    What a cool place to visit! Man, I’d love a study like that for myself 🙂

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 10:59 am

      @Denise, Right? Me too, now that you say it!

      Reply
  6. Carissa Pelletier says

    October 20, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    It’s surprising how much fits in such a small space and well-decorated too! I can see why he spent so much time there!

    Reply
    • Shannon Schmid says

      October 20, 2016 at 1:55 pm

      @Carissa Pelletier, It’s actually quite spacious inside! But the best part must have been all the light from all those windows!

      Reply

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