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1 Park Place at Elmira College
Elmira, New York 14901
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Literary History at its Finest: The Mark Twain Study at Elmira College
Elmira College hosts the Center for Mark Twain Studies, a renowned research center and Mark Twain’s Study, which was relocated to Elmira College in 1952. Modeled after a Mississippi steamboat pilot house, this study witnessed the creation of literary classics such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, A Tramp Abroad, and Life on the Mississippi. The Mark Twain Study is open to visitors on weekdays throughout the summer and fall or by appointment.
Mark Twain’s connection with Elmira, NY, began with his marriage to Olivia Langdon in 1870. For over twenty summers, Twain and his family stayed at Quarry Farm, where he penned his most famous works in a unique octagonal study atop East Hill. In Mark Twain Country, his local ties are celebrated in various ways.
The Chemung Valley History Museum features a permanent exhibit dedicated to Mark Twain’s life in Elmira, NY. Through a curated collection of artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays, visitors can delve into the lesser-known aspects of Twain’s life during his summers spent in Elmira.
To pay respects to Twain, a visit to Woodlawn Cemetery is a must. His grave, marked by a towering headstone, is a resting place for the author, his wife, and their children. Visitors often leave tributes, including cigars, which were Twain’s favorite vice.
