Newsletter

Monday, December 5 at 7pm ET - Clemens Conversations: CHRISTMAS CHARITY IN THE GILDED AGE (Virtual)

“Great baskets with the feet of turkeys protruding below blankets of flowers and fruit.”

As Clara Clemens recalled years later, one of the most important Christmas traditions for the Clemens family was assembling and delivering baskets of food and gifts to poor families in Hartford. This program explores the family’s charitable efforts in historic context: increasing prosperity for some, increasing poverty for many more, and a society torn over what to do about it.

This program is delivered live from inside the historic home itself, which is completely transformed for the holiday season. At the end of the presentation, you will be able to ask any questions you want about the home and family, and request our roving camera-person show you any part of the home that you want!

Virtual Event Live from The Mark Twain House & Museum. $10 per stream. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Tuesday, December 6 at 7pm ET - CHRISTMAS PAST: The Fascinating Stories of Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions with Brian Earl (Virtual)

Brian Earl explores the stories behind Christmas traditions in his new book, Christmas Past. Inspired by his podcast of the same name, Brian provides a lens through which readers can view Christmas as festive, cheerful, strange, and above all, endlessly fascinating. He’ll be joined by Assistant Curator Mallory Howard for a discussion of his book, podcast, and what Christmas means to him—and all of us!

FREE Virtual Event. LEARN MORE. & REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, December 7 at 7pm ET: The Trouble Begins at Home - SUSY'S FINAL YEARS with Linda Morris (Virtual)

Susy Clemens, the oldest daughter of Sam and Olivia Clemens, died unexpectedly of spinal meningitis at the age of 24. This presentation will focus on the final six years of Susy’s life, from the time she was admitted to Bryn Mawr College at the age of 18 to her final days in Hartford, Connecticut. Much is known and has been written about her father’s celebration of Susy’s young life, but much less is known about her young adult years when Susy was for a time living apart from her parents and struggling with her own sense of self.

This presentation will examine her romantic relationship with fellow student Louise Brownell and the effects of their separation on Susy when the Clemens family moved to Europe to cut back on their living expenses. It will explore the details about her life revealed in her letters, observations by early biographers, and letters from her mother to intimate friends in which she described her concerns for Susy’s health and well-being. It will offer a much fuller sense of the young-adult Susy than the image of her that emerged as she was idealized posthumously.

FREE Virtual Event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Thursday, December 8 at 7pm ET - REQUIEM FOR THE MASSACRE: A Black History on the Conflict, Hope, and Fallout of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre with RJ Young

The massacre against the Black residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma was covered up and ignored for generations. Young shows how Tulsa remains all too tolerant of racial injustice while it attempts to end the power of the status quo and face its racist past. Blending journalism and memoir, Young threads his own reflections together with the stories of a community and a nation trying to find healing and hope. 

FREE Virtual Event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Sunday, December 11 at 1pm ET - GILDED AGE ORNAMENT-MAKING WORKSHOP

In-Person Event: $10.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Sunday, December 11 at 2:30pm ET: THE CLEMENS FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - LIVE!

In-Person ($5) & Livestream ($2.50)

LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Murder Mystery Tour with a Christmas Twist

December 16 & 17 - Sea Tea Improv returns for a special Christmas edition of our GET A CLUE TOURS!

GET A CLUE Tours will be offered on special nights at The Mark Twain House & Museum, using the various rooms (secret passageway, conservatory, billiards room, and more) of the Twain house — and some of the author’s favorite literary characters — as part of the game.

Was it Tom Sawyer in the Conservatory with the slay-bells? Merlin in the Billiard Room with an exploding Christmas present?

Tickets $21-$29. Reservations required. REGISTER HERE.

Monday, December 12 at 7pm ET - CLEMENS CONVERSATIONS: CLEMENS CHRISTMASES ABROAD AND APART - Virtual Livestream from The Mark Twain House!

$10 per Stream. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Tuesday, December 13 at 7pm ET - THE MAGI: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate with Eric Vanden Eykel

FREE Virtual Event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Tuesday, December 13 at 7pm ET - THE MAGI: Who They Were, How They've Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate with Eric Vanden Eykel

FREE Virtual Event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

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