Approximately 100 miles northwest of St. Louis sits an old river town that dates back to 1819...
Nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River...
...Hannibal, Missouri oozes history and old-world charm.
Most famously known as the hometown of Samuel L. Clemons (aka Mark Twain) and the inspiration for his Tom Sawyer books, Hannibal is a fascinating peek into the small town magic that inspired the author's literary treasures.
As I hadn't been to Hannibal since I was a child (and Steve and the boys had never been)... we snuck away for a short Father's Day stay. I couldn't wait to share our adventure with the blog!
Simply, Hannibal is the ideal place to enjoy a slower pace of life and unspoiled historical architecture...
You can walk through the childhood home of a literary genius ...
... and partake in the scenery
...and adventures
... that inspired him to write the magical tales that have captured the imagination of readers for 100+ years!
The most compelling part of our Hannibal visit for me, however, as a true lover of history and historical architecture?
Our sleeping arrangements!
Built between 1898 and 1900 in the Georgia Revival style by a wealthy Scottish lumber tycoon for his wife and 4 daughters, high on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River...
The Rockcliffe Mansion boasts almost 14,000 square feet on 4+ acres including 30 rooms, 10 ornate fireplaces, Tiffany glass galore, and an honored spot on the National Register of Historic places. St. Louisans may also want to note that it was designed by Barnett,
Haynes, and Barnett, of St. Louis, who also designed the Missouri
Governor's Mansion, the Basilica, and numerous other turn-of-the-century mansions in the Central West End.
The most interesting aspect of the mansion however? It's story! After the owner, John J. Cruikshank...
...passed away in the mansion in 1924, his family boarded it up and moved NEXT DOOR- never to return. The mansion sat vacant and abandoned, fully furnished and in its original state, for FORTY THREE YEARS.
Over those 4 decades, the mansion became known as the haunted house on the hill and a place of urban legend and truth-or-dare games for local children. As a result of vandalism (broken windows) and ZERO upkeep... the dilapidated property was scheduled to be bulldozed in 1968- furniture, Tiffany windows, and all. Just 2 weeks before being razed, the structure was rescued by 3 local families that pooled their resources. When the new owners entered and began the tedious restoration process, they not only found the original furnishings and architectural goodies in tact... books were on the bookshelves, clothing was in the closets, toiletries were in the bathrooms. The bulk of those items remain in place today.
Over the years, the property has passed hands numerous times. The current owner purchased the mansion in 2010 after the former owner filed bankruptcy.
The Rockcliffe Mansion now...
Different exterior views...
Porch overlooking the 4 acre lot with a view of the river and all of Hannibal...
Miraculously, minus an excessive amount of grime and some water damage, the interior of the property (and the bulk of its features/furnishings/wallpaper/plaster/Tiffany stained glass) remained in tact! The exterior of the property, however, suffered greatly from the years of neglect and is still in need of extensive exterior renovation today...
I am not going to lie, when we got out of the car with our luggage and saw the state of disrepair on the exterior of the mansion... my entire family looked at me like I was crazy for making overnight reservations there. Rockcliffe, however, epitomizes the age old motto "Don't judge a book by its cover".
When we entered...
...our jaws dropped.
Simply, the Rockcliffe Mansion is SO mammoth, so beautiful, so original, so impressive... there truly are no words to describe it. My photos do not do it justice. This post does not do it justice. Here is a peek at a few dozen of the 100+ photos that I took there...
Despite the numerous online paranormal investigations of the mansion, the ghost rumors we heard all day in town when people learned where we were staying, and our somewhat spooky venture downstairs in the dark to see if Mr.Cruikshank's eyes in his portrait DO indeed follow you as rumored ...
...the sleep in the mansion was quiet, comfortable, and peaceful.
The mansion's owner and host, Juan, was incredibly friendly, informative, and gracious...
For me, having the opportunity to stay in a house filled with so much history and beauty was a dream. Even if you don't sleep at the Rockcliffe Mansion, you must at least tour it if you ever find yourself in Hannibal! Trust me, it is unbelievable.
Prior to heading back to St. Louis, we headed up to the historical Riverside cemetery to bid adieu to our real hosts...
The Cruikshank family, who is buried high atop the bluffs of the Mississippi River.
If seeking a day or weekend trip from St. Louis, consider Hannibal! Fun adventure with a little something for all ages.
Nitty Gritty...
Hannibal Department of Tourism
Rockcliffe Mansion
For a great place to dine, visit eclectic Labinnah (Hannibal backwards) on North 5th Street...
Make reservations, as the establishment is small with only 28 seats.
Connect with Labinnah on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LaBinnahBistro?fref=ts
