The Mississippi River is a mighty force. Its billions of gallons of water rush swiftly to the sea everyday. The river carves out valleys and slices through hills, but as this majestic American symbol passes though the rolling hills of northeastern Missouri, it seems to slow its pace and pay tribute to the hometown of its greatest son.

Hannibal is nestled on the west bank of the Mississippi and is the hometown of Samuel Clemens, the boy who would become Mark Twain. Twain moved to Hannibal in 1839, at the age of four, and would make the small river town his home for the next 14 years. Hannibal's river economy and small-town atmosphere were the inspiration for some of Twain's most beloved and influential novels.

When visiting this historic town, one can picture Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer making mischief and exploring the many caves in the Missouri countryside. The area's forests and landscape set the stage for an unlimited amount of possible adventures. Landmarks such as Cardiff Hill and Mark Twain Cave are real-life settings for many of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn's adventures.

Hannibal is full of history. Museums and historic buildings are all around the town, and the countryside is an attraction all its own. Mark Twain Lake and the area's many caves offer outdoor adventure, and the downtown district lets visitors take a step back in time.

Make no mistake, Hannibal is no longer the quaint little river town Twain portrayed in so many of his books. Twain's steamboats have been replaced with massive barges, and dams and bridges now span his mighty river. New industries and businesses have sprung up as Hannibal has moved into the new millennium.

The town has also had its share of both natural and economic hardships over the years. The flood of 1993 caused a great deal of damage, and the town's population has decreased since its heyday in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Some things have remained the same since Twain's boyhood. Bald eagles still circle the river during the winter months and the Mississippi still passes everyday in its never ending race to the sea.

Today, Hannibal is a town that deals with the same issues as most every other town in America. Its 18,000 residents live and work like any other community. However, to the young at heart, this river town's landscape and history can still spark the imagination and stir up a since of innocent adventure and simpler times.