Hannibal Landmark to Be Restored and Rededicated

The Associated Press is reporting that the famed Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn statue in Samuel Clemens' hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, declared unsound three years ago, will finally be returned to its former glory.

Workers have been rebuilding the statue, situated at the foot of Hannibal's Cardiff Hill. The new foundation, begun in January, is now complete, and all that remains is the landscaping. The re-dedication ceremony is expected later this month, most likely over the Memorial Day weekend.

Stimulus Money for the Twain House?

The historic Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut fell on some pretty hard times last year, but has since been bouncing back thanks to some very successful fundraising. And now, according to WFSB Channel 3 News in Hartford, there may be even more help soon on the way in the form of government stimulus relief.

Hartford mayor Eddie Perez told Channel 3 that he has considered proposing a Hartford stimulus project as a way of protecting the Twain House from future financial ruin. A total of $640 million in stimulus funds have been given to Connecticut, with a large portion obviously going to public works and infrastructure. But Perez and others also hope that a portion of it can be diverted to arts-related projects like the Twain House, as well.

Meanwhile, the Twain House is also waiting to hear back on the status of its recent application for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.