In 1995 my wife and I took a trip to Hannibal, Mo on the banks of the Mississippi to see the place where Mark Twain originated from. At that time we were not in the footwear business offering brand names like Rockport shoes, Nautilus safety shoes, Dansko shoes, Birkenstock chef shoes, Super Birki, Ryka walking and running shoes from our website www.lionfootweardirect.com. The Mark Twain museum was interesting but the best tour we took was of the Rockcliffe Mansion, a 13,500 sq. ft. home built high on top of a bluff overlooking Hannibal, Mo and the Mississippi river. The tour was conducted by a woman dressed in period attire of the late 1800’s. We were allowed to walk into the rooms so we got a real feel of how it was to live in a mansion. J. Cruikshank, a lumber baron and banker, built his dream home Rockcliffe Mansion with the best materials money could buy. He supplied the finest quality oak, walnut, and mahogany available. Barrett, Haynes, and Barnett of St. Louis, Mo. designed the mansion using double brick wall construction making it more solid than homes built today even after 109 years. The grand stairway is a stunning feature of the mansion and Mark Twain gave a speech from the top of the stairway. Cruikshank, his wife and four daughters moved into the mansion in 1900. The family lived in the mansion until 1924 when they vacated the home after John Cruikshank’s death. The house stood empty and was boarded up for 43 years. Two weeks before it was to be razed three families purchased the property. Inside the mansion they found palladium windows and 10 marble and tile fireplaces. The families have restored Rockcliffe Mansion including 80% of the families personal items including paintings, furniture, and clothing all found in the mansion’s 4 floors and 30 rooms. Wallpaper used in the living room had gold dust imbedded in it. Cruikshank had a room created like a sitting room in the Walldorff Astoria where he stayed when he was in New York City on business. Cruikshank’s bedroom on the third floor was arranged so the first thing he saw when got up in the morning was his logs floating down the Mississippi on their way to St. Louis, Mo. The families that own the Rockcliffe Mansion have added a bed and breakfast and this American Castle would be a great place to stay if you ever visit Hannibal, Mo. If you are looking for comfortable shoes check out our Nuatilus saftey shoes, Alegria nursing shoes, Rockport shoes, Sandro Moscoloni, Dansko shoes, Birkenstock chef shoes, Sanita clogs, K-Swiss, Ryka, Birko balance and Birko sport arch supports.

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