episode-header-image

Apr 2025

20m 18s

The Story of the Town That Created Mark ...

About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, the river town of Hannibal, Missouri, spared Mark Twain from nothing, exposing him to poverty, death, racism, and the need to make decisions for himself. Here's Richard Garey, a Mark Twain aficionado, with the story of this all-important town.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next

The Story of America: The Framers and the Summer of 1787 [Ep. 9]

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitutional Convention opened in 1787, the United States was less than a decade old and already struggling. The Articles of Confederation had created a loose union of states with a Congress that lacked the power to tax, enforce ... Show More

Why the Founding Fathers Believed Faith and Freedom Were Inseparable

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Founding Fathers set out to shape a new nation, they looked to Scripture for wisdom. Many were not traditional churchgoers, but nearly all believed that moral order came from faith.Robert Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Ma ... Show More

How America's First Constitution Failed

On this episode of Our American Stories, The American Revolution had created an independent country. It had not yet created a government capable of holding that country together. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress struggled to raise money, regulate commerce, enforce it ... Show More

Recommended Episodes

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Mark Twain

A bar fight and a stint on the lam transformed Samuel Clemens into Mark Twain — and changed the course of American literature. Settle in for Mark Twain's origin story. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English Written by Zaron Burnett Produced by Josh Fisher Editi ... Show More

The Vampire Tunnels of Springfield, Missouri

<p>Every town has its own rumors, tall tales and legends, and Springfield, Missouri is no exception. This idyllic American city is home to US Highway 66, some great barbecue, a vast underground of tunnels -- and, allegedly, vampires. So how did this rumor start, exactly? Is there ... Show More

How Toxic Waste Created a Real Life Ghost Town in Missouri

In the early 1900s, there was a new and promising town in Missouri with a very bright future ahead of it. But by the end of the century, the area was completely abandoned, and left behind as a real life ghost town. And today, the town no longer even exists. How did this happen? L ... Show More

Borrasca Pt. 1 | Creep Cast

Wendigoon and MeatCanyon explore one of the internets best horror stories. A new family moves into a small Missouri town by the Ozarks and begins experiencing strange things that lurk in the towns mysterious past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Twain Was a Terrible Investor, Part Two: Typesetters, Steam Pulleys and Tesla

Well, Ridiculous Historians, as our pal Mark Twain settled into a life of literary fame, he still couldn't help himself from making huge investments in terrible ideas -- sometimes, at an enormous emotional cost to his family. In the second part of this special two-part series, Be ... Show More

Most people know Mark Twain as one of America’s most popular writers and humorists. Some even know that as a young man, he was a Riverboat pilot. But did you know that during the Civil War, he volunteered for the war effort to fight for the South? Learn more about your ad choices ... Show More

Episode 17 – The Town That Got Away With Murder

This is the story about a small town in rural Missouri, that’s been hiding a very big secret…for close to 40 years. A small town that bound themselves tightly together in solidarity in order to eliminate a monstrous problem.How to support:For extra perks including extra content, ... Show More

WHISKEY Ep. 1 | Virginia City: “Writers & Miners”

Virginia City, Nevada exploded onto the scene in the early 1860s with the discovery of the Comstock Lode, veins of gold and silver that were some of the richest in history. The boomtown attracted a young man who became one of the most famous authors in American literature: Mark T ... Show More

BUFFALO BILL Ep. 6 | “‘Tin Jesus On Horseback’”

Difficult times are ahead for Buffalo Bill Cody in the final years of his life. He helps found the town of Cody, Wyoming, but its creation, and other investments, lead to dire financial trouble. Bill’s marriage falls apart in a public scandal and he experiences more personal trag ... Show More