Ghostly Encounters at the Mark Twain House

The Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT, was home to the iconic author and his family from 1874 to 1891. It was here that Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain’s real name) wrote some of his most recognized works, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The building is now part of the Mark Twain House & Museum, and visitors are able to walk through the rooms and a get glimpse into the life of the Clemens family. It’s also possible that some of these former residents never really left. There have been various reports of paranormal experiences inside this historic home.

Mark Twain House – Porch and front

One apparition that has appeared to multiple people is a lady in white. She has been described as wearing a period dress and hairstyle, as well as being semi-transparent. She has been seen walking through areas of the house, only to disappear. Some surmise that this may be the ghost of Twain’s eldest daughter, Susy Clemens, who passed away from spinal meningitis while staying at the house when she was 24 years old.

Back of Mark Twain House

There have been a variety of other potential paranormal experiences, such as unexplained sounds and voices, lights going on, and different ghostly presences. A security guard once saw a tray fly across a room, forcefully hitting a pipe. Various people have reported the smell of cigar smoke in the billiards room. Twain had used the billiards room as his office while living there and he was known to smoke up to 40 cigars a day! Even famed paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren has visited the house.

Moon over the new museum building

It’s heartening that the museum seems to embrace this ghostly aspect of the mansion. A nighttime ghost tour is offered in October which discusses the reported hauntings as well as Twain’s own opinions on the supernatural. I recently attended this tour and certainly enjoyed it. The house has also been featured on a number of paranormal television shows, such as Ghost Hunters. In the gift shop, there’s a book for sale that explores the supernatural side of the Twain house. It’s written by Steve Courtney and is titled, “We Shall Have Them With Us Always”: The Ghosts of the Mark Twain House. I picked up a copy on an earlier visit to the museum and found it to be an interesting read.

The Carriage House

Of course, throughout the year, regular (non-ghostly) tours are offered. There’s a modern museum building right near the mansion, which houses the ticketing area, exhibit space, gift shop, etc. The parking lot is adjacent to this building. You’ll want to check the official website for ticket prices and tour times. Access to the house is only available via guided tours. It’s also important to note that interior photography is prohibited (which is why my post here only has exterior pictures).

Mark Twain House – Porch and conservatory

The Mark Twain House & Museum is a great destination. The Gothic architecture is quite striking and the interiors are very atmospheric. I learned a lot more about one of America’s preeminent writers, and the tales of ghostly encounters will certainly leave one wondering about the possibilities.