The Twain-Barnum Connection

Well, they're both famous former residents of Connecticut, and they were indeed friends, so I guess it makes some kind of sense.

The Bridgeport News reports today that the Twain House in Redding, CT (not the more famous Twain House in Hartford, but rather "Stormfield", the house in which Twain spent his final years) will be utilized to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of pioneering impresario (read: huckster) P.T. Barnum in 2010.

Specifically, the Barnum Museum in Barnum's hometown of Bridgeport is working on an exhibit, to be presented at Stormfield, that will focus on museums during Barnum's day, and how they were operated.

“We want to tell it with a Twain-esque voice,” says Barnum curator and executive director Kathy Maher. “I can’t think of two more prominent names in the state than P.T. Barnum and Mark Twain. We’re still in the planning stages, and I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for fun and for engaging the entire public.”