Hannibal in Marion County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Grant's Drug Store

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 11, 2012

1. Grant's Drug Store Plaque 1

Inscription.

Grant's Drug Store. .

Plaque 1 , This structure is also known as the "Pilaster House" named for the flat columns on the exterior. It is historically significant for three reasons: , . It was prefabricated in Cincinnati, Ohio, its pieces shipped by steamboat. It arrived in 1836 and was erected by James Brady, later the first mayor of Hannibal. , . Dr. Orville Grant, his wife and his mother-in-law lived upstairs. In 1846, because of financial problems, the Clemens family was forced to leave their home and moved across the street with the Grants. In March of 1847, Mr. Clemens rode by horse to the county seat of Palmyra, Missouri, and was caught in a sleet storm. He contracted pneumonia and died in one of the upstairs rooms. , . Upon his father's death, young Sam Clemens' mother could no longer afford the 25 cents per week she paid for his education. Sam was forced to leave school and earn room and board as a printer;s apprentice at the age of eleven. This building stands as a testament to the resilience of this young boy who would grow up to become America's most beloved author, Mark Twain.

The Pilaster House was given to the City of Hannibal in 1956 by Mrs. Sarah Mahan. It was restored and opened to the public in 1959. In 2009 the building was placed on Missouri Preservation's "Most Endangered Buildings" list.

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum has the responsibility of caring for Grant's, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. We are relying upon donations from concerned citizens to restore this important historical landmark and keep it open for future generations. Will you please donate?

Plaque 2 , Grant's Drug Store (aka; Pilaster House) was named to Missouri Preservation's "Most Endangered Buildings" list in 2009. Emergency repairs by volunteers saved the building temporarily, but it is now in dire need of a complete restoration and cannot be reopened to the public until such a restoration is complete. This building is vital to preserving the legacy of Mark Twain.

We invite visitors to view the old time drug store display through the windows. Donations toward the restoration project are gratefully accepted. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum receives no tax dollars to support its historic preservation efforts and must rely on the generosity of Mark Twain fans from around the world.

Thank you for supporting our preservation efforts.

Plaque 1
This structure is also known as the "Pilaster House" named for the flat columns on the exterior. It is historically significant for three reasons:
• It was prefabricated in Cincinnati, Ohio, its pieces shipped by steamboat. It arrived in 1836 and was erected by James Brady, later the first mayor of Hannibal.
• Dr. Orville Grant, his wife and his mother-in-law lived upstairs. In 1846, because of financial problems, the Clemens family was forced to leave their home and moved across the street with the Grants. In March of 1847, Mr. Clemens rode by horse to the county seat of Palmyra, Missouri, and was caught in a sleet storm. He contracted pneumonia and died in one of the upstairs rooms.
• Upon his father's death, young Sam Clemens' mother could no longer afford the 25 cents per week she paid for his education. Sam was forced to leave school and earn room and board as a printer;s apprentice at the age of eleven. This building stands as a testament to the resilience of this young boy who would grow up to become America's most beloved author, Mark Twain.

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home

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& Museum has the responsibility of caring for Grant's, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. We are relying upon donations from concerned citizens to restore this important historical landmark and keep it open for future generations. Will you please donate?

Plaque 2
Grant's Drug Store (aka; Pilaster House) was named to Missouri Preservation's "Most Endangered Buildings" list in 2009. Emergency repairs by volunteers saved the building temporarily, but it is now in dire need of a complete restoration and cannot be reopened to the public until such a restoration is complete. This building is vital to preserving the legacy of Mark Twain.

We invite visitors to view the old time drug store display through the windows. Donations toward the restoration project are gratefully accepted. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum receives no tax dollars to support its historic preservation efforts and must rely on the generosity of Mark Twain fans from around the world.

Thank you for supporting our preservation efforts.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1847.

Location. 39° 42.716′ N, 91° 21.445′ W. Marker is in Hannibal, Missouri, in Marion County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Hill Street, on the left when traveling north

Grant's Drug Store Plaque 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, June 11, 2012

2. Grant's Drug Store Plaque 2

on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hannibal MO 63401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. McDaniel's Candy Store (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Grant's Drug Store (a few steps from this marker); Tom Sawyer’s Fence (a few steps from this marker); Henry Collins Building (a few steps from this marker); Joshua Mitchell Building (a few steps from this marker); New Cash Store (a few steps from this marker); Mark Twain's Father's Law Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Abner Nash Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hannibal.

More about this marker. As of 2020, the markers have been removed from windows.

Regarding Grant's Drug Store. Building contributes to the Mark Twain National Register Historic District.

Also see . . . Mark Twain Historic District National Register Nomination Form. (Submitted on September 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Grant's Drug Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, June 11, 2012

3. Grant's Drug Store

Side-view of Grant's Drug Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed By M. Bowyer, July 13, 2012

4. Side-view of Grant's Drug Store

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 751 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on September 20, 2012, by M. Bowyer of Indianapolis, Indiana.