The Mark Twain House Reviews

Very interesting. I enjoyed learning about Mark Twain.

Loved getting the living history tour! Was like being back in the early 1900s! Worth the extra bucks!

Amazing living history tour by the role Katy Leary , the Twain family 's life long servant . The tour program apparently is new . Wasn't here in 2014 when I last visited . Touching stories and very immersive experience . Do this tour instead of the general tour . Also each character presents a different view , non overlapping stories

If you want to know about the character not his place just go to the web and get what you want. Place was okay, price kind of expensive

This was a side trip on my mother s 85th birthday trip. It was great. We took a living history tour guided by Samuel Clemens s wife. It was fun. The actress was knowledgeable and really good. She stayed in character (in time period) the entire tour. At the end, she broke character to answer questions that couldn t be answered in character. Great gift shop and exhibit space as well in the visitor center.

WE have planned our family vacation for months. We are a family of five, ages 55, 50, 24, 12 & 16 months. Since we were vacationing in Connecticut and all of the publicity on t.v. and guides stated that not only was the state beautiful, but steeped in history as well, we decided after reading about the Mark Twain House on the internet that a visit there would be a part of our family's vacation. The kids were so excited. It took us an unusually long time to get our tickets for the house tour as the young cashier couldn't understand why we didn't want to pay $70 when three adult admissions, one child's admission and one free child's admission added up to only $58. It took two people to figure out the mat that we did immediately in our heads. We wiated with anticipation, our toddler grandaughter showing her excitement by being a bit vocal. Now, all of us understand that others have paid for the tour and have the right to hear the tour guide and enjoy their tour. However, our grandaughter was not overly loud and interjected excited noises only now and again. Our tour guide, with her see through gray floral mini dress and nose piercing looked at us like we were dirt. She took my daughter aside and asked us to leave the tour. We asked why and said we knew the baby had made some excited noises but that the house was advertised everywhere as a family friendly attraction. She merely repeated that we had to leave the tour. She would not let us go back to the entrance to obtain our refund unescorted and proceeded to hold us there, against our will while she repeatedly spoke into her walkie talkie to try and get someone to "escort" us. I told her I was beginning to feel ill as people in the tour were all staring at us and waiting for her to continue the tour and asked her to point the way for us. She was not going to but we headed off and found the entrance where, not to our surprise, noone knew how to give a refund. I did let them know that I was appalled as it seemed they were not a family friendly attraction and I would be letting the Connecticut Board of Tourism and all others that I could contact about the incident. All I have to say is that the experience has left us a bit soured on the Connecticut area (maybe not rightly so there) and the Mark Twain House (rightly so). We came to take the tour as a fun part of our vacation. No one in our party was breast feeding in public ( a hot button issue now I guess), no one had an unruly child running through the house breaking priceless antiques, etc. We came in with a child excited to be there who expressed it vocally. Don't go to the Mark Twain House if you are a family with small children, even well behaved ones like ours, as you will not be welcome.

Very unique place that CT people should be proud of, I lived in Hartford for a year and visited Mark Twain house more than 5 times. Tours are very nice, but other events are my favorite

Exceeded my expectations. Visit the museum, tour the home and learn about one of our country's most interesting historical figures. I recommend the living history tour given by an actress playing the part of an 1800's house servant.

Visit there and they have some tours to see and describe about the house and the background.

Lovely property. Learned a lot about Mark Twain and his family.

Very interesting and exciting museum to visit. A lot of history in one location.

Great event spaces of different sizes. Great catering

If you are a fan of Sam Clemens you must go. Amazed to learn his next door neighbor was Louisa May Alcott. The house certainly reflects the character of the man. Docent stories were good

Great information on the life of Mark Twain. Get there early to watch the 23 minute video before the tour.

I most definitely recommend the live action tours. They were very informative. So much fun and loved the added room and artifacts they allowed us to see in the live action tour. Tour guide was knowledgeable of every facet of her character's life.

Second time there in two years, and we aren't local!! Enjoyed it so much in 2016 that wanted to share with my sister that traveled with us in Sept 2018!! They finished a room that wasn't open in 2016 and it was super! The bee wallpaper and details to bathroom were great. Interesting history behind the renovation as well.
They changed the museum part of the upstairs as well, could learn more about the family and their pets. Check out this great place of one of America's favorite son's when you are in Hartford CT!!

Thouroughly enjoyed the tour lead by "George", Mark Twain's Butler. A lot of standing and steps, but one of the best tours of my life.

Hard for people to get around with disabilities...understandable in home but disappointing.

The movie which they show on Mark Twain's life is the highlight of this place. Nothing else really to see but it's okay to visit I guess if you are passing by.

The house was beautiful and our guide was, Tyler, was outstanding! Well worth the visit. Just wish we could have taken (non-flash) pictures of the inside.

An awesome house to visit tho you cant take photos inside. Cant wait to try the ghost tour.

Great experience to better know the life and contributions of Mark Twain in addition to the well-known life as an important writer. Beautiful history, great guides and a good example of a person who faces the cultural base of his time.

Great place to learn about one of the great. Also tapping into twain is fun if you like local beer

I really enjoyed the tour and the story of Mark Twain and George (butler). Beautiful home...I would do it again. The kids in my group did a scavenger hunt during the 90 mins tour of the home.

Lived across the street for 10 years and always loved enjoying history!

Great tour. (I believe the lady's name is Marsha.) We had a great time here. Loved it.

A wonderful place learn about the past. Katey was our guide as the lady of the houses dresser.

3 stars, museum-wise. Minus 1 star because you must take a tour in a group. Can't decide which was worse, the absurdly dumb questions from the other people on the tour, or the guide's (what I can only assume was an) attempt at humour

Samuel Clemens and family lived in this spectacular ornate home. Lots to see inside. Well worth the 1 hr. Tour price. Very knowledgable guide

Superb historical house to visit. When I lived in Connecticut I went 3 times. The third time I went was around Halloween time and it was a ghost tour of the house which was amazing. You learn alot of other details about Twain, his family and the house they don't usually cover on regular tours. Twain has always been one of my favorites. Between him and his gorgeous house ( which that type of architecture is one of favorites as well) is truly a breathtaking and captivating experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Connecticut. Don't let this incredible experience slip through your fingers. Especially if you're there around Halloween time

Interesting tour of the home of one of America s greatest writers.

Don't be late, can't see the house without a guide.

Great old house, great tour guide. But only look, don't touch! Annyoing preservation rules will get you down.

Really liked the guided tour. I felt it's better with the Live guided tour/actor because they make it more interesting. Makes it seem like you're talking to a person back in the time period.

The guides were knowledgeable and able to answer any questions we had. The tour included anecdotes about Twain's life and insights into his family life.

I don't know where to begin. Experiencing history through a house tour like this wholly immersive. Couple that with the huge personality of Samuel Clemens, his pride, his ingenuity, his insecurities, and you can feel the history come alive around you. Vibrantly, you can see him reclining in his study, smoking a cigar. You can hear him and his children playing in the "jungle" after an extravagant dinner. You can commiserate with him during a round of billiards, mourning his late wife. If you have even the slightest interest in literature, history, or both, a visit here is a must.

Great place to visit very interesting tour and history of his life

A great historic home to visit; on weekends I suggest to book ahead or be prepared to wait for a while.
Cafe located in the visitors center building has extremely limited options to choose from, so if you are hungry eat before hand.

Wonderful venue with accommodations for the handicapped. Benefits from M Twain's outsized ego.

I visited for a hosted work function. The food and service was very good and the tour was informative and interesting but a little rushed.

Loved hearing the history of Mark Twain and his family. Tour guide seemed well informed and answered our questions. Great experience

I was so underwhelmed by our tour guide. He was not excited about answering a typical questions, or even finding the answers. A beautiful house so and I really loved the hostess.

Really wonderful museum, lots of information about his day to day life. The decorative arts are intriguing as is the artistic and scientific within the household decor and family values.

If you're not a fan of Mark Twain I'd have doubts about you.

We did not take the tour were opting to visit after the Mark Twain house is decorated for Christmas. Will report again after that attaches a picture that we took in the meantime.

Friendly staff, not the best for young children. Great architecture!!

Great place to visit. Front desk people lack personality, which is ironic as Twain was a man full of personality. The museum hides how liberal he was!

The best! Tour staff are very informative obviously enjoy their job. A great opportunity to meet the past and learn how much he influence our future.

Loved it. Such history and beautiful home. So glad it was saved. A must see. Staff was very pleasant.

For such an interesting man to have a museum of, this tour could not have been more exemplary of making something very interesting, very very dull. It's now a running joke among those of us who went about how bad it was. The most interesting part was the Twain quotes on the walls, which I could have read on my own.

Right next door to Harriet Beecher Stowe's house. Great tour. Beautiful home!!

Traveled very far to visit this museum. The woman behind the desk was very unaccomodating. Even when people weren't able to make it to their scheduled tour she still wouldn't allow us to join in. No empathy

Wonderful tour guide with lots of fun information. Great job with social distancing and following safety guidelines reopening

Very pricey for admission and very few original pieces or decor left. It was a great tour but for the money you could probably get a better historic bang for your buck than this

For so many reasons this home Twain wrote so many of his great works is a must visit if you're in the Northeast and appreciate his contribution to what we know of American Literature. The home is special as he has said, it has an energy that goes beyond the architecture. It is a heritage memorial that deserves your time and support. Remember to enter the home as if you were an honored guest invited to spend an evening with Sam, Livy and his three daughters. Immediately, you will be able to imagine the special place it was for the family.

Great Living History tour, given *in character*. Super well done.

Great tour! It almost felt too short. Our guide Kitt was awesome. He had a great sense of humor laced with the story telling of a brilliant, comical and heartbroken author. Only downside was not being able to take pictures indoor due to the age and preservation of the home. Please visit if your ever in the area.

Pretty boring. Guide walked with a cane and sweated profusely. Guide didnt seem to be too encouraging about Twains life except how he inherited the money to build his house. No pictures are allowed to be taken inside. A lot of doors inside the house were closed.

Imagine yourself standing in a man cave looking at a table where the adventures of huckleberry finn was written. Imagine standing next to a telephone that mark twain had used everyday or the bed where he would sleep and admire the expensive headboard ev every night. I wish I could come here when I read his books for the first time.

Very cool insight into life of a wealthy person in that time. Also learned some new things about Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain. Enjoyed the Ken Burns movie quite a bit.

Great experience and well worth the entrance fee. The house is so ornate and I like it that the lighting is subdued just as it would have been when Mark Twain lived there. I really liked seeing his famous bed and standing in the billiards room where he wrote Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Highly recommend visiting here if you are in the Hartford area.

Tickets cost about $20 per adult that you have to purchase from the basement section beside the house. Tours are usually 1 hr. long and cover each section of the house. No photography is allowed inside the house due to insurance. That's a big let down.