Hannibal is a small city in northeastern Missouri, along the Big River, known as the Mississippi. It is best described as the former home and native town of the famous American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens or Mark Twain.
Hannibal is among the oldest cities in America since it was established in 1819 and is fondly referred to as America's Hometown.The city is popular amongst tourists when it comes to Twain's sites including his birthplace among other memorials.
Besides, here is a varied list of 20 stunning things to do in Hannibal:
1. The Haygoods: Branson's Most Popular Show
Branson which is over 250 miles away from Hannibal presents an incredible show catering to different tastes. While you are in Hannibal, book a ticket to the Haygoods show in advance.
You are sure to get admission without the chance of a ticket being sold out. While there, hear the talented family providing music and dance with special effects and over 20 different instruments.
It's wise to get to the theater 45 to 60 minutes before the scheduled to avoid queuing at the entrance. Indeed, you can even reserve a wheelchair if needed when making a booking.
2. Tour The Rockcliffe Mansion
If you like historic homes, then this is one of the must-see Hannibal Missouri attractions. This is an outstanding mansion, a home with many stunning antiques.
The historic treasure is made even more special by a tour guide. You will want to stay longer to learn about the fascinating stories behind the mansion. Guided tours can be availed daily.
The uniqueness of this property is that most of the furniture and drapes are original. You will see amazing old photos to compare to what it currently looks like. Moreover, the mansion is filled with rich Mahogany, Oak, and Walnut appointments, the finest decor, and magnificent Palladian windows.
3. Best of St. Louis Small Group Tour w/St Louis Arch & River Cruise
A visit to St. Louis from Hannibal can be a rewarding experience. Under normal traffic, it takes about two hours to reach Louis.
You will begin in the City of St. Louis where it will be possible to go to the top of the Arch of St. Louis. The possible vantage points at the top offer a breathtaking feel of the city's skyline besides being very memorable.
After that, head to Gateway Arch National Park and familiarize yourself with the history behind the Arch through many additional exhibits and information. Lastly, join the Gateway Boat Cruise and relax on the modern riverboat.
4. Explore The Mark Twain Cave and Cameron Cave
This excursion exceeds your expectations. Mark Twain Cave is a unique cave with a lit route and walkways for a smooth walk.
You will led by a tour guide who is informative and engaging. Listen to the cave history and geology with many stories and humor. This labyrinth played a huge role in Twain's famous work, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The Cameron Cave tour is about 80-90 minutes long and consists of a total of a mile walk and you will hike a quarter mile up to the entrance of the cave. This cave is open only on Memorial Day and Labor Day.
5. Titanic Museum Branson Admission Ticket
Avail an opportunity to board a stunning scaled-down model of the Titanic with this ticket to the Titanic Museum Branson. The ticket takes the form of a boarding pass and you can start the self-guided tour while inside.
Begin by receiving a brief biography of one of the passengers or crew members of the Titanic. Hear about their times in life and also aboard the ship. Spend as much time as desired, gaining insights.
The museum has more than 400 artifacts representing the belongings of the passengers and the vessel. You also get a chance to touch a real iceberg and stand on sloping decks that copy the Titanic's final moments.
6. Overlook The Mississippi River From The Lovers' Leap
A short drive out to the Lover's Leap is scenic, including the steep, winding drive up to the top. It is amazing how much and how far you can see the Mississippi River from here.
The park has a few benches, a large sculpture of two hearts, and a small monument with a cheesy "Indian legend" about two lovers leaping off the cliff. The chain-link fence keeps people off the cliff.
Bring a "love" lock to sign and add to the two heart sculptures. This is a short time trip that can be done even with limited time. You can see all of the historic downtown area of Hannibal and watch barges traveling along the Mississippi River.
7. World's Largest Toy Museum Admission in Branson
The Beck Museum of Branson is the considered World's Largest Toy Museum. It consists of eight museums and over 1 million toys.
With this admission, you get access to the six individual museums in the complex. They host toys from trains, sports, barbies, and Western toy categories. As you walk past the huge toy soldier at the entrance, you may get drawn back to your childhood.
As a bonus, the clubhouse of Roark Valley Modular Railroad is located inside the premises. People enjoy visiting the running trains. Overall, this is one of the things to do in Hannibal Missouri.
8. Roam Around Historic Downtown Hannibal
Downtown Hannibal is a historic community, which is well developed and offers numerous things to do for tourists. Anyone interested in obtaining some useful information should then proceed to the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and the Hannibal History Museum.
Next, take a leisure stroll along the Main street and stop by unique shops that sell art, handmade crafts, and jewelry. Most of the stores here are locally owned.
If you are hungry, savor delicious meals at various eateries and cafes along with local specialties. The area is also popular for hosting fun festivals such as the Chocolate Extravaganza and the Haunted Hannibal Halloween Festival.
9. Try Your Hands At Ayers Pottery
Ayers Pottery is a small shop in downtown Hannibal MO and has an awesome selection of potteries. One can shop, watch pottery making, take a class, and even take a tour of the place.
This place has hence been in operation for more than three decades. If you are lucky to be led on a tour around the studio you get to know what great things are going on.
The collections are so neat and perfect that they make it very hard to decide what pieces to buy. As a result, many end up buying a lot. Moreover, the feeling of creating something will leave you inspired. Learn more about the place at Ayers Pottery website.
10. Watch A Performance At Bluff City Theater
Bluff City Theater brings art and culture to the community and cares deeply about its audience's experiences. They have a small space where you feel connected to the show.
With 90 seats, the theater focuses on literature, authors, or characters from literature. Seasonal programs run from February to August and occasional special ones are available throughout the year.
This venue is unique for a town Hannibal's size and one of the Hannibal Missouri tourist attractions to visit during your stay. Intimate surroundings, handicapped expressible, and excellent presentations are some of the highlighting facts that attract many people.
11. Climb To The Top of Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse
The lighthouse has a long stairway with over 200 steps with handrails. Behind the lighthouse is another small parking lot and if you want to avoid all stairs, you can park there and take the sidewalk to the tower.
You will find people jogging up and down the stairs, especially in the morning. The lighthouse is cute and there is a sign nearby explaining its history to the future generations. The building was completed in 1935 to celebrate the centennial of the birth of the famous American writer.
However, the monument is not accessible to the public, and one can only go to the area to unwind. It is worth stopping for the view of the Mississippi River and downtown Hannibal from here.
12. Visit The Main Street Wine Stoppe
A great example of Hannibal's hospitality is the reason this is where the locals come. It is a perfect place to have a glass of wine and a great conversation. If you have doubts or need suggestions for wine selection, do visit the bartenders.
They are attentive and well-familiar with the collections. The facilities also have a welcoming atmosphere day or night. You might find the bottles pricey but they do have good selections for lower-priced drinks.
If the weather is favorable, sit outside and enjoy people-watching. This is one of the best Hannibal Missouri County locations for attending karaoke Sunday, live music during weekends, or simply unwinding during the week.
13. Spend Family Time At Mississippi Mind Trap-Escape Room
Mississippi Mind Trap is a fun and engaging escape game suitable for almost all age groups. Participants will search for clues and try to match them to complete a mission.
All this has to be done within the time limit and inside the most realistic themed rooms. It is an intricate space with lots of twists and turns. Walk-ins are rather not accepted and it is advised to make the booking at least 1 hour in advance.
Visit the Mississippi Mind Trap website to book and choose the missions available. Some popular options are Family Game Night and The Hidden Chamber.
14. Stop By The Tom and Huck's Statue
Tom and Huck are the legendary and adorable characters of Mark Twain's book. The statue sits at the north end of Main Street and is worth a brief stop for a look and photo.
As the sun shines on it, you can see the detail of the faces of these fictional heroes. The monument stands in between the beds of flowers overlooking the Mississippi River.
To its left is a staircase leading up to the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse. If you are in Hannibal to take in the sight of Mark Twain then you should probably add this to the list of things to see.
15. Try Steaks At Drake's Steak And Ale
This venue is an ultimate destination for steak lovers and event organizers. Drake's Steak And Ale sits in the heart of Hannibal and boasts a cozy and friendly atmosphere.
They offer selective palates including tender, juicy filet mignon, or savory ribeye. Expert chefs prepare each steak in the finest manner painting its juiceness.
However, this is just one part of the role this restaurant manages. The other part deals with catering services which can be booked for any special occasions such as birthdays, business events, wedding, and others.
16. Delve Into The Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours
This is a guided tours that explore the most famous haunted sites, both past and present throughout Hannibal. It is rather a history trip sprinkled with folklore, a murder, and three missing boys from a decade ago.
Here you hop on a bus and the driver takes you to different areas of the city. Most of the time the driver turns out to be the guide. You will come across the old jailhouse, a Catholic church, Mark Twain Cave, and a few different houses.
Each location has a great story regarding haunted spirits. They even provide you with dousing rods to do your paranormal investigation in the cemetery.
17. Relax At Glascock’s Landing Nipper Park
Located directly on the riverfront, Nippers Park has about a mile of handicap-accessible sidewalks and 25 benches with memorial plaques that overlook the river.
Sculptures are installed including Liberte and a bronze sculpture of Mark Twain as a riverboat pilot. The 8-acre park has new sidewalks, fencing, lighting, restrooms, handicap accessibility, new stormwater utilities, a large green space for events, and a rock wall along the river.
There is free parking as well. It is a beautiful place for walking, fishing, and watching what floats down the river. Moreover, you can also take your fur babies for a walk.
18. Learn About The Jim's Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center
The museum shares the history of Jim, a character in Huck Finn, by Mark Twain, based upon a real person, a black slave at the time he wrote the book. It is a small one-room place filled with stories, photos, and artifacts.
You will also learn about slavery in the region and the history of triumphs of the African American community. It is off the main part of the town but still nearby.
However, you need to call ahead and set up a viewing, because the museum is run by a retired corporate executive. Nevertheless, Jim's Journey place helps to get an idea about a part of Hannibal's history that is not fully covered in any other historic sites.
19. Night Hike At Sodalis Nature Preserve
It is unique to go on a trip to consider nature at night. Most of the path is black-topped with some spurs on dirt trailers to the caves in which the bats reside.
There is a longer dirt trail that runs along the top of the ridge which is a little more challenging. This nature preserve is not far from the riverfront and there are several places to view cave openings to spot their mammals.
It is a nice place to walk, especially to escape the bustling noise of the city. There is also a creek that runs nearby. The water is beautiful and clear and the stones are perfect for skipping rocks. It is best for just a gorgeous evening and a beautiful walk.
20. Shop At Aunt Polly's Treasures
This is an antique store business that began its operations only a few years before the Civil War. It is situated between the Becky Thatcher House and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home.
The store has several small decorative pieces that come in the form of vintage collectibles like hats, planters, jewelry, teacups, and creamers among others. Finding souvenirs reflecting the daily existence of your grandparents or even yourself in the past is very enriching.
Not only does it function as a cottage selling items that are past their prime, but as a beautiful venue for someone who wants to immerse themselves in the history of Hannibal.
