Goldsberry Township in Mountain View in Howell County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2021
1. Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak Marker
Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi River was the home of Samuel Clemens from age 4 to 17. The Clemens family moved to the riverfront town in 1839. The limestone geology of the area with the many bluffs made caves quite common. In 1832 a large cave was discovered and named Simms Cave, a place of fascination for the local children. The place took on greater mystique when an eccentric doctor used it as a tomb for his young daughter's body. He placed the body in a copper cylinder thinking the cave's dry air would mummify her. In his autobiography, Clemens recounts one day when he played hooky from school and visited the cave. Thinking the resident bats would make fine pets, he put one in his pocket before returning home at the normal time. His mother went to put the jacket away and found the bat — caught! Writing as Mark Twain, Clemens describes Tom and Becky's adventure lost in McDougal's Cave — clearly a reference to his memories of Simms Cave. Today, the Mark Twain Cave is a popular tourist site and is marked by a large bur oak at the entrance, known as the Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak. Your tree is grown from a seed collected from this tree.
Erected by American Forests; Famous & Historic Trees.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 36° 59.904′ N, 91° 42.379′ W. Marker is in Mountain View, Missouri, in Howell County. It is in Goldsberry Township. Marker can be reached from North Pine Street just north of West 4th Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker and tree are located along the walkway in West Side Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 406 North Pine Street, Mountain View MO 65548, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Moon Sycamore (a few steps from this marker); Lindbergh Red Maple (a few steps from this marker); Robin Hood English Oak (a few steps from this marker); Manassas Red Oak (within shouting distance of this marker); Harry S. Truman Siberian Elm (within shouting distance of this marker); Minuteman Silver Maple (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Vernon Red Maple (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington Carver Green Ash (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain View.
Also see . . .
1. Mark Twain Cave Complex. Excerpt:
American Heritage Trees is honored to work with The Mark Twain Cave staff to collect seeds and propagate(Submitted on November 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)seedlings from the infamous Burr Oak and the Sycamore tree. The Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak, known as the Liberty Tree Burr Oak, still grows just outside the Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal. This special heritage tree was a seedling in 1721…over 50 years before the United States was created!Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 20212. Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak Marker & Tree
2. American Forests™ website. (Submitted on November 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2021
3. Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak Leaf Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 30, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
