Small but informative. Worth the stop. Limited hours, but the volunteer came in early for a large…read moregroup of us which was VERY much appreciated.

I first visited the Carthage Jail in 1982, soon after I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of…read moreLatter-day Saints. It strengthened my testimony and still today. Visiting Carthage Jail can be sad, because it's where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. But, I'm grateful for the opportunity to remember the great lives they lived and the contributions to the salvation of mankind they made. To quote John Taylor, "They lived great..." I'm thankful for all of the blessings that I enjoy today because of them. The Church of Jeuss Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken extraordinary care of the site. The missionaries at the site are wonderful and give complimentary tours. The history of the site is well worth a visit.

This was the highlight of our trip across the Midwest. I really enjoyed learning more about Joseph…read moreSmith and the young ladies that gave us the tour were so well spoken and thoughtful. I was touched by their comments about how supportive Hyrum Smith was of his younger brother Joseph. Wish I had an older brother like that.

Gorgeous mansion in a section of Quincy where you see a few blocks of absolutely gorgeous mansion-…read moretype homes that are amazingly maintained! Beautiful woodwork and furnishings. Some docent provided information, as well as self guided tour .

Beautiful place! Some original furniture & clothing pieces, other period pieces donated from…read morenearby. Very nice place to stop and learn some local history.

We spent about 2 hours exploring the grounds. There are multiple buildings you can walk in and…read moreexplore yourself with lots of informative plaques and actors scattered throughout a few to tell you more in depth information about daily life at the fort. Found out it's family run and we had the pleasure of interacting with the owner and his son, they were some of the actors! You could tell that ALL of the actors knew what they were talking about, we were blown away. They put so much thought and time into these exhibits and you can tell!

Our family (8 yr-old, mom and dad) had a great time visiting this museum. Full disclosure, it was…read moreconstructed in modern times (1980's I think) using historically accurate tools and techniques as a museum patterned after the original fort of the same name. There is about 90-minutes of activities here including several rooms with different themes like barracks, hospital, kitchen and an office from pioneer days. It's very well cared for, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and there is a small gift shop. In addition to the fort, you can see a Santa Fe / Burlington train engine, a fountain, and the Mississippi River all from the same parking lot. Pack a lunch, grab your camera and come check this place out - it's really fun.

What a wonderful piece of history! It's not just Quincy or Illinois history, but American history…read more We had such an amazing tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and personable. He went at such a wonderful pace to really help us take in all the info. The mansion itself has been kept so well. If you're visiting Quincy, this is a spot you must visit.

Beautiful historic home of the former Illinois governor John Wood. We came over the winter holidays…read morewhen it's free and members of the historical society served as guides and shared stories and facts about John, his family and the various furniture and artifacts around the mansion.

Unusual building labeled as a "castle" along the Mississippi River Bluffs in Quincy, Il. Moroccan…read morein style and furnishings for a wealthy businessman and his 200 lb. dog. Used as information center and event venue.

Beautiful place with a nice history. The volunteers working there were very kind and knowledgeable…read moreof the history

Museum is cute and I got a good deal on Groupon for my whole family. We happen to visit during the…read moreTom Sawyer festival which may the experience more fun. It's not accessible for wheels due to all the stairs, and some of the spaces are small, where you get to walk into the rooms; but it was a good place to cool down in the heat and learn about history and Tom Sawyer. I toddler did walk into the windows, a couple times that separate the historic items from the walk spaces, but he is fine. I definitely recommend a stop for anyone in the area to learned about Mark Twain in that time.

A Great place to learn about Mark Twain Before visiting the…read morethe city of Hannibal and Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, I have to admit that I was a little reluctant to go. I assumed it was simply going to be a small house with a few displays, and I wasn't sure it would be worth the time. Boy, was I wrong. The city has done an outstanding job preserving and celebrating the life of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. His influence can be seen throughout the city. This site, the Boyhood Home & Museum is the perfect place to begin exploring everything Hannibal has to offer. Rather than being just a single historic house, the attraction actually consists of several buildings spread throughout the block, each focusing on different parts of Twain's childhood, family, writing, and legacy. The exhibits are well organized and do an excellent job telling the story of how a young boy growing up in this Mississippi River town eventually became one of America's greatest authors. As you walk through the different buildings, you'll recognize many of the places and people that later inspired characters and settings in books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I especially enjoyed seeing how the museum connected Twain's real life with his famous stories. The buildings are well preserved, and there is a tremendous amount of history packed into the exhibits. Two challenges for the site are 1) it may be difficult for mobility impaired and 2) some of the informational signs located behind Plexiglas were a little difficult to read because of reflections. There is also a nice gift shop with plenty of books and souvenirs, along with a fun photo opportunity where visitors can pose helping Tom Sawyer "paint the fence." It's a clever addition that both children and adults seemed to enjoy. Overall, this attraction definitely exceeded my expectations. Whether you're a fan of Mark Twain, enjoy American history, or simply appreciate well-done historic sites, I would highly recommend visiting the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum. It is an excellent introduction to Hannibal and one of the highlights of the city. Enjoy!

Always a good thing! The museum preserves and displays historical memorabilia, photos, and stories…read morefrom Wapello County, Iowa. I appreciate the grand effort made by the society to preserve and share information. My grandparents lived in Wapello County their entire lives and I grew up spending summers at the farm. I would love to see the Military Room receive a renovation with greater emphasis on Wapello County veterans.

From the owner: The Iowa Heartland History Connection is a southeastern Iowa history museum with so much to offer!…read more- museum exhibits that rotate regularly with new things to see - view items from our own collection, from private collections, and other museums - dedicated kids room for learning and exploration - gift shop that features Iowa themed gifts and hand-made goods from local small businesses - rooms for rent for meetings, classes, lectures, presentations, and parties - a research library for National History Day research and genealogy - you can also ask a volunteer here to do research for you (for a fee)