“We did try to put it in its national context…overall, we tried to frame it in such a way that was accessible to everybody,” Faden says.
Hannibal resident Joe Miller says the new exhibit has brought excitement to the community and has helped bridge the gap among the city’s African-American and White residents.
“People were able to present their pictures, their stories, and their memories (through the exhibit),” says Miller, 69. “For people to be interested in your life, your history, and your community, it gives you a new feeling of inclusiveness, because in many instances the Black community has felt left out…and for someone to take the time to want to know about you, it makes you proud and gives you a new perspective about the attitude of your community as a whole.”
Officials note that the new Hannibal exhibit has also served to increase awareness about the museum’s diverse educational programs. Students and teachers across the country converge on the museum throughout the year to attend various lectures and workshops. For example, Faden and other local professors assist in the organization of an annual teachers’ workshop, which trains participating educators from around the country how to more effectively present and discuss Twain’s writings in the classroom. Many summer workshops are accredited through Illinois-based Quincy University, which allows teachers to receive graduate credit, adds Faden.
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