Missouri is known for the Ozarks but when it comes to the most visited towns, Hannibal takes the cake... Or, in this case, the spooks. While the town is home to important literary history, it's also been featured on the Travel Channel for its somewhat unorthodox hauntings. From its incredible system of maze-like caves which inspired famous author Mark Twain to the well-known businesses that have also come forward claiming to be part of a town-wide haunting, Hannibal seems to have its own dark secrets and there's much more to this town than meets the eye.
Among all of these are ordinary, non-spooky attractions that people come from all over to see, from Mark Twain's home to all the outdoor activities one could possibly want in a small town such as this. However, all of its fun and family-friend activities still aren't enough to keep ghost hunters and those interested in the paranormal from stopping at Hannibal. For some, even passing through is enough to sense the so-called portal that many believe the town to be, as there have been far too many unexplainable incidents for some locals to dispute the fact that there's something strange happening in Hannibal.
The Childhood Home Of Mark Twain
For starters, the town of Hannibal is known first and foremost as being the childhood home of author Mark Twain. It's said that both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were inspired by his days growing up in the town, and the cave mentioned in the books was inspired by the massive cave system that's in Hannibal. This cave also has its own dark history which can be learned on one of Hannibal's many ghost tours. On the tours, visitors will learn about tragic murders as well as unexplainable events that happen in the town. Millionaire's Row and the Old Baptist Cemetery, which is also allegedly haunted, are all part of the tour as well.
The Most Haunted Buildings
Radcliffe Mansion has quite a reputation for its unusual happenings as its former owner, John Cruikshank, passed away in his bed in 1924. After this happened, his wife left the mansion which fell into disarray. Eventually, the dilapidated mansion got the name 'haunted house on the hill,' which was evocative of all things associated with abandoned mansions - and, in this case, many believe them to be true. However, the town's residents kept the mansion from completely falling to ruin and were able to restore it to its former glory. Along with the restoration, visitors to the town have the option to spend the night in the mansion... if they're daring enough to do so.
There's an old police station that many will be able to point out simply with one short stroll through town. The building itself has not changed much and stands out starkly when compared to the rest of the updated town - with its dark brick walls, faded paint, and cracked windows, it's easy to believe the stories that come from those who have been inside this building. While the old police station didn't always have a reputation, over the last decade or so, many have been claiming that it's haunted by something - it was also a former jail, so who knows what energy might be left behind there. Many visitors have actually captured footage of strange images in the windows which only serves to back up the claims that something unusual is going on within its walls.
Haunted Landscapes
It's not only the buildings in this town that come with a dark history. The town's most famous overlook - Lover's Leap - also comes with a tale of tragedy. It's said that a Native American woman took to the cliff and threw herself over the side after losing her lover to the Mississippi River. With such a strong undercurrent, he was quickly pulled under and despite attempts to rescue him, it was to no avail. She couldn't imagine her life without him, therefore she lept from the edge - thus the name 'Lover's Leap.'
There's plenty of history in the town of Hannibal and civil war history is only one aspect of it. However, it's from this time period that many believe the Old Baptist Cemetery is haunted. With many gravesites devoted to civil war soldiers, visitors believe that it's haunted by those who have not yet passed on and that their spirits still wander the grounds. Interestingly enough, this is also the location that served as the setting in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer during the infamous body-stealing attempt.