Home > Connecticut > Hartford > Mark Twain House, 351 Farmington Avenue (corrected from original add, Hartford, Hartford County, CT
B&W Photos
HB254353
Billiard Room
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HB254354
Front And Side, Exterior
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HB254355
General View, From Left Side
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HB254356
Hall And Stairway
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HB254357
Rear Exterior View
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HB254358
Dining Room
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HB254359
Exterior, General View Of North (street Side) Elevation From The North
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HB254360
Exterior, View Of North Street Elevation From Farmington Avenue
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HB254361
Exterior, View Of East (front) Elevation From The Southeast
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HB254362
Exterior, View Of The Southern Half Of The East (front) Elevation
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HB254363
Exterior, Partial View Of East (front) Elevation From The Southeast
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HB254364
Exterior, View Of Southeast Corner With Edge Of Carriage House On Left
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HB254365
Exterior, View Of East And South Elevations From Southeast
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HB254366
Exterior, View Of South Elevation With Partial View Of East Elevation
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HB254367
Exterior, General View Of West (rear) Elevation And Partial North Elevation From The Northwest
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HB254368
Exterior, General View Of West (rear) Elevation From The Northwest
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HB254369
Exterior, General View Of The North Elevation
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HB254370
Exterior, View Of The North Elevation
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HB254371
Exterior, Partial View Of The Northeast Corner From The East
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HB254372
Exterior, Partial View Of The East Elevation Of The Service Wing, With Scale
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HB254373
Exterior, Partial View Of The East Elevation Of The Service Wing, Without Scale
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HB254374
Exterior, View Of The Porte-cochere From The North With The Mark Twain Carriage House (habs No
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HB254375
Exterior, View Of The Porte-cochere And East Elevation From The North
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HB254376
Exterior, Detail View Of The East Elevation Of The Porte-cochere
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HB254377
Exterior, East Elevation, View Of The First Floor Porch And Porte-cochere From The Southeast
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HB254378
Exterior, East Elevation, View North From Porch Deck To The Porte-cochere From The South
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HB254379
Exterior, Detail View Of The Wind-screen On The North Wall Of The Porte-cochere
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HB254380
Exterior, View From The Deck Of The Umbra To The East Porch From The South
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HB254381
Exterior, Vertical View Of Umbra, South Tower, And Conservatory From The Southeast
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HB254382
Exterior, Detail View Of The Umbra, From The South
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HB254383
Exterior, Detail View Along West Elevation Of The Umbra To A First Floor Window On The South Elevation
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HB254384
Exterior, Partial View Of The South Elevation
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HB254385
Exterior, View Of The Conservatory From The Deck Of The Umbra
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HB254386
Exterior, View Of Quarter-round Enclosure And Entrance To The Butler's Pantry On The West (rear) Elevation From The South, With Scale
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HB254387
Exterior, View Of Quarter-round Enclosure And Entrance To The Butler's Pantry On The West (rear) Elevation From The South, Without Scale
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HB254388
Exterior, Detail View Of Gable With Chimney In Background From The Southeast
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HB254389
Exterior, Detail View Of Gutters And Drainage Pipes On East Elevation From Southeast
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HB254390
Exterior, Detail View Of Clerestory Windows Of Third Floor, East Elevation
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HB254391
Exterior, Detail View Of Second Floor Window And Dormer Roof On The East Side Of The South Elevation From The South
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HB254392
Exterior, Detail View Of Texas Deck (porch), Third Floor, Southeast Corner From The Southeast
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HB254393
Exterior, Detail View Of The Third Floor Porch On Gabled Southwest Corner From Southeast
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HB254394
Exterior, Detail View Of Slate Shingles On Roof And Jig-sawed Fret Work Skirting From The Inside Of The Texas Deck (porch)
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HB254395
Interior, First Floor, Entrance Hall, View To North Wall And East (front) Entrance Door From The Southwest
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HB254396
Interior First Floor, Entrance Hall, East (front) Entrance Door From The West
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HB254397
Interior, First Floor, Entrance Hall, Fireplace On North Wall
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HB254398
Interior, First Floor, Entrance Hall, View Of Staircase In Southwest Corner From The North
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HB254399
Interior, First Floor, Entrance Hall, Detail Of Newel Post With Lamps From The North
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HB254400
Interior, First Floor, Entrance Hall, Detail Of Bust Of Samuel Clements And Wall Stenciling
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HB254401
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, North Wall From Southeast
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HB254402
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, General View From The West
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HB254403
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, Elevation Of South Wall And Fireplace, With Scale
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HB254404
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, South Wall, East Door, Fully Closed With Latch
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HB254405
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, South Wall, East Door, Partially Opened
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HB254406
Interior, First Floor, Drawing Room, South Wall, East Door, Fully Open
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HB254407
Interior, First Floor, Dining Room, General View From The South
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HB254408
Interior, First Floor, Dining Room, General View South Into Library From North
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HB254409
Copy Of Historic View Of West Wall Of Dining Room, Date & Photographer Unknown; Property Of Mark Twain House.
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HB254410
Interior, First Floor, Dining Room, View Of West Wall From East, Duplicating Historic View (see Ct-359-51)
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HB254411
Interior, First Floor, Dining Room, View Of Northwest Corner With Fireplace And Window Above On North Wall
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HB254412
Interior, First Floor, Dining Room, East Wall, Pocket Doors To Drawing Room
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HB254413
Interior, First Floor, Library, View Of Alcove On West Wall
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HB254414
Interior, First Floor, Library, East Wall With Fireplace And Mantle, With Scale
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HB254415
Interior, First Floor, Library, East Wall With Fireplace And Mantle, Without Scale
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HB254416
Interior, First Floor, Library, East Wall, Detail View Of Fireplace And Mantle, With Scale
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HB254417
Interior, First Floor, Library, East Wall, Detail View Of Fireplace And Mantle, Without Scale
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HB254418
Interior, First Floor, Library, Side View Of West Wall Fireplace And Mantle From The South
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HB254419
Interior, First Floor, Observatory, View From The Library To The South
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HB254420
Interior, First Floor, Mahogany Guest Room, View To The North Windows And East Door From The South
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HB254421
Interior, First Floor, Mahogany Guest Room, General View To The North
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HB254422
Interior, First Floor, Mahogany Guest Room, East Wall, Detail Of Speaking Tube Mouthpiece (tube To Kitchen)
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HB254423
Interior, First Floor, Mahogany Guest Room, Detail Of Fireplace And Mantle In Northwest Corner From The East
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HB254424
Interior, First Floor, Dressing Room, General View To The South
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HB254425
Interior, First Floor, Bath, View To The North
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HB254426
Interior, First Floor, Bath, View To East
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HB254427
Interior, Second Floor, Stair Hall, General View From The North
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HB254428
Interior, Second Floor Stair Hall, Detail Of Staircase From The North
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HB254429
Interior, Second Floor, Mr
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HB254430
Interior, Second Floor, Mr
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HB254431
Interior, Second Floor, Mr
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HB254432
Interior, Second Floor, Langdon Guest Room, General View From East
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HB254433
Interior, Second Floor, West Side Bath, View Of Sink
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HB254434
Interior, Second Floor, West Side Bath, View Of The Tub, With Scale
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HB254435
Interior, Second Floor, West Side Bath, View Of The Tub, Without Scale
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HB254436
Interior, Second Floor, School Room, General View To The Southeast Corner
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HB254437
Interior, Second Floor, Southeast Corner Bath, View From The West
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HB254438
Interior, Second Floor, Clara And Jean's Bedroom, Detail View Of Fireplace, Mantle And Door
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HB254439
Interior, Second Floor, Susy's Bedroom, General View From The South
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HB254440
Interior, Third Floor, Stair Hall, General View From The North
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HB254441
Interior, Third Floor, Billiard Room, General View To The South
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HB254442
Interior, Third Floor, Billiard Room, South Wall, Detail Of Translucent Carved Marble Window On The East Side
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HB254443
Interior, Third Floor, Billiard Room, South Wall, Detail Of Translucent Carved Marble Window On The West Side
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Data Pages
Drawings
Photo Caption Pages
Item Title
Location351 Farmington Avenue (corrected from original add,
Hartford, CT
Find maps of Hartford, CT
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.
Notes
Survey number HABS CT-359
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (N250).
Building/structure dates:
1874 initial construction
Building/structure dates:
1881 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1886 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1929 subsequent work
Sometimes architecturally referred to as "Mississippi Steamboat" style.
National Register Number: 66000884
Significance: Completed in 1874, the Mark Twain house was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter and Alfred H. Thorp for noted American author and humorist Samuel Clemens and his family. The Clemenses lived here from 1874 until 1891, during which time Mr. Clemens wrote a number of novels now recognized as classics of American literature, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876), "A Tramp Abroad" (1879), "The Prince and the Pauper" (1880), "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884), and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1889). The house was erected on a portion of the property known as "Nook Farm," a close-knit, prestigious enclave that included, in addition to the Clemens family, authors Harriet Beecher Stowe and Charles Dudley Warner, and suffragist Isabella Beecher Hooker. The Clemenses were known for their ostentatious lifestyle and entertaining. Guest included noted personalities of the day, including literary figures William Dean Howells, Thomas Bailey Aldrich and Bret Harte; actor Edwin Booth, and British explorer and journalist Sir Henry Morton Stanley. The Mark Twain House, with its irregular configuration, many gables, projecting bays, balconies, and covered porches provides a stunning example of the eclectic European-inspired Continental Picturesque style favored by the well-to-do from the late 1850s through the early 1870s. The design also follows several local conventions with its use of Windsor brick and Connecticut River Valley brownstone and with its glass-enclosed Conservatory modeled after a design attributed to Nook Farm neighbor Harriet Beecher Stowe. Of particular note, Louis Comfort Tiffany and his firm Associated Artists decorated the first floor rooms and central hall of the house. The Aesthetic Movement decor was influenced by East and Near East design and features intricate geometric stenciling on walls and doors, specialty wallpapers and some pierced brasswork and carved teak woodwork. Also, the house was fitted with the most advanced technological equipment of the day, including a telephone, speaking tubes and bells, burglar alarm, gas lighting, central heating, and extensive plumbing.
Subjects
BalconiesPorchesTurrets (towers)
Related Names
Potter, Edward Tuckerman
Tiffany, Louis Comfort
Clemens, Samuel
Twain, Mark
Thorp, Alfred H.
Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. BILLIARD ROOM
2. FRONT AND SIDE, EXTERIOR
3. GENERAL VIEW, FROM LEFT SIDE
4. HALL AND STAIRWAY
5. REAR EXTERIOR VIEW
6. DINING ROOM
7. EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW OF NORTH (STREET SIDE) ELEVATION FROM THE NORTH
8. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF NORTH STREET ELEVATION FROM FARMINGTON AVENUE
9. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF EAST (FRONT) ELEVATION FROM THE SOUTHEAST
10. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE EAST (FRONT) ELEVATION
11. EXTERIOR, PARTIAL VIEW OF EAST (FRONT) ELEVATION FROM THE SOUTHEAST
12. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF SOUTHEAST CORNER WITH EDGE OF CARRIAGE HOUSE ON LEFT
13. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF EAST AND SOUTH ELEVATIONS FROM SOUTHEAST
14. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF SOUTH ELEVATION WITH PARTIAL VIEW OF EAST ELEVATION
15. EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW OF WEST (REAR) ELEVATION AND PARTIAL NORTH ELEVATION FROM THE NORTHWEST
16. EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW OF WEST (REAR) ELEVATION FROM THE NORTHWEST
17. EXTERIOR, GENERAL VIEW OF THE NORTH ELEVATION
18. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF THE NORTH ELEVATION
19. EXTERIOR, PARTIAL VIEW OF THE NORTHEAST CORNER FROM THE EAST
20. EXTERIOR, PARTIAL VIEW OF THE EAST ELEVATION OF THE SERVICE WING, WITH SCALE
21. EXTERIOR, PARTIAL VIEW OF THE EAST ELEVATION OF THE SERVICE WING, WITHOUT SCALE
22. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF THE PORTE-COCHERE FROM THE NORTH WITH THE MARK TWAIN CARRIAGE HOUSE (HABS No. CT-365-A) IN THE BACKGROUND
23. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF THE PORTE-COCHERE AND EAST ELEVATION FROM THE NORTH
24. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF THE EAST ELEVATION OF THE PORTE-COCHERE
25. EXTERIOR, EAST ELEVATION, VIEW OF THE FIRST FLOOR PORCH AND PORTE-COCHERE FROM THE SOUTHEAST
26. EXTERIOR, EAST ELEVATION, VIEW NORTH FROM PORCH DECK TO THE PORTE-COCHERE FROM THE SOUTH
27. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF THE WIND-SCREEN ON THE NORTH WALL OF THE PORTE-COCHERE
28. EXTERIOR, VIEW FROM THE DECK OF THE UMBRA TO THE EAST PORCH FROM THE SOUTH
29. EXTERIOR, VERTICAL VIEW OF UMBRA, SOUTH TOWER, AND CONSERVATORY FROM THE SOUTHEAST
30. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF THE UMBRA, FROM THE SOUTH
31. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW ALONG WEST ELEVATION OF THE UMBRA TO A FIRST FLOOR WINDOW ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION
32. EXTERIOR, PARTIAL VIEW OF THE SOUTH ELEVATION
33. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF THE CONSERVATORY FROM THE DECK OF THE UMBRA
34. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF QUARTER-ROUND ENCLOSURE AND ENTRANCE TO THE BUTLER'S PANTRY ON THE WEST (REAR) ELEVATION FROM THE SOUTH, WITH SCALE
35. EXTERIOR, VIEW OF QUARTER-ROUND ENCLOSURE AND ENTRANCE TO THE BUTLER'S PANTRY ON THE WEST (REAR) ELEVATION FROM THE SOUTH, WITHOUT SCALE
36. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF GABLE WITH CHIMNEY IN BACKGROUND FROM THE SOUTHEAST
37. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF GUTTERS AND DRAINAGE PIPES ON EAST ELEVATION FROM SOUTHEAST
38. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF CLERESTORY WINDOWS OF THIRD FLOOR, EAST ELEVATION
39. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF SECOND FLOOR WINDOW AND DORMER ROOF ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SOUTH ELEVATION FROM THE SOUTH
40. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF TEXAS DECK (PORCH), THIRD FLOOR, SOUTHEAST CORNER FROM THE SOUTHEAST
41. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF THE THIRD FLOOR PORCH ON GABLED SOUTHWEST CORNER FROM SOUTHEAST
42. EXTERIOR, DETAIL VIEW OF SLATE SHINGLES ON ROOF AND JIG-SAWED FRET WORK SKIRTING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TEXAS DECK (PORCH)
43. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, VIEW TO NORTH WALL AND EAST (FRONT) ENTRANCE DOOR FROM THE SOUTHWEST
44. INTERIOR FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, EAST (FRONT) ENTRANCE DOOR FROM THE WEST
45. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, FIREPLACE ON NORTH WALL
46. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, VIEW OF STAIRCASE IN SOUTHWEST CORNER FROM THE NORTH
47. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, DETAIL OF NEWEL POST WITH LAMPS FROM THE NORTH
48. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, ENTRANCE HALL, DETAIL OF BUST OF SAMUEL CLEMENTS AND WALL STENCILING
49. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, NORTH WALL FROM SOUTHEAST
50. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE WEST
51. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, ELEVATION OF SOUTH WALL AND FIREPLACE, WITH SCALE
52. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, SOUTH WALL, EAST DOOR, FULLY CLOSED WITH LATCH
53. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, SOUTH WALL, EAST DOOR, PARTIALLY OPENED
54. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRAWING ROOM, SOUTH WALL, EAST DOOR, FULLY OPEN
55. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DINING ROOM, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE SOUTH
56. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DINING ROOM, GENERAL VIEW SOUTH INTO LIBRARY FROM NORTH
57. COPY OF HISTORIC VIEW OF WEST WALL OF DINING ROOM, date & photographer unknown; property of Mark Twain House.
58. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DINING ROOM, VIEW OF WEST WALL FROM EAST, DUPLICATING HISTORIC VIEW (SEE CT-359-51)
59. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DINING ROOM, VIEW OF NORTHWEST CORNER WITH FIREPLACE AND WINDOW ABOVE ON NORTH WALL
60. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DINING ROOM, EAST WALL, POCKET DOORS TO DRAWING ROOM
61. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, VIEW OF ALCOVE ON WEST WALL
62. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, EAST WALL WITH FIREPLACE AND MANTLE, WITH SCALE
63. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, EAST WALL WITH FIREPLACE AND MANTLE, WITHOUT SCALE
64. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, EAST WALL, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE AND MANTLE, WITH SCALE
65. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, EAST WALL, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE AND MANTLE, WITHOUT SCALE
66. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, LIBRARY, SIDE VIEW OF WEST WALL FIREPLACE AND MANTLE FROM THE SOUTH
67. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, OBSERVATORY, VIEW FROM THE LIBRARY TO THE SOUTH
68. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, MAHOGANY GUEST ROOM, VIEW TO THE NORTH WINDOWS AND EAST DOOR FROM THE SOUTH
69. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, MAHOGANY GUEST ROOM, GENERAL VIEW TO THE NORTH
70. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, MAHOGANY GUEST ROOM, EAST WALL, DETAIL OF SPEAKING TUBE MOUTHPIECE (TUBE TO KITCHEN)
71. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, MAHOGANY GUEST ROOM, DETAIL OF FIREPLACE AND MANTLE IN NORTHWEST CORNER FROM THE EAST
72. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, DRESSING ROOM, GENERAL VIEW TO THE SOUTH
73. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, BATH, VIEW TO THE NORTH
74. INTERIOR, FIRST FLOOR, BATH, VIEW TO EAST
75. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, STAIR HALL, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH
76. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR STAIR HALL, DETAIL OF STAIRCASE FROM THE NORTH
77. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, MR. AND MRS. CLEMENS' BEDROOM, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE NORTHEAST
78. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, MR. AND MRS. CLEMENS' BEDROOM, DETAIL OF GAS EXTENSION 'CORD' FROM GASOLIER TO LAMP, VIEW FROM NORTHEAST
79. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, MR. AND MRS. CLEMENS' BEDROOM, ROOM, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE ON SOUTH WALL
80. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, LANGDON GUEST ROOM, GENERAL VIEW FROM EAST
81. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, WEST SIDE BATH, VIEW OF SINK
82. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, WEST SIDE BATH, VIEW OF THE TUB, WITH SCALE
83. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, WEST SIDE BATH, VIEW OF THE TUB, WITHOUT SCALE
84. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, SCHOOL ROOM, GENERAL VIEW TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER
85. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, SOUTHEAST CORNER BATH, VIEW FROM THE WEST
86. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, CLARA AND JEAN'S BEDROOM, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE, MANTLE AND DOOR
87. INTERIOR, SECOND FLOOR, SUSY'S BEDROOM, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE SOUTH
88. INTERIOR, THIRD FLOOR, STAIR HALL, GENERAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH
89. INTERIOR, THIRD FLOOR, BILLIARD ROOM, GENERAL VIEW TO THE SOUTH
90. INTERIOR, THIRD FLOOR, BILLIARD ROOM, SOUTH WALL, DETAIL OF TRANSLUCENT CARVED MARBLE WINDOW ON THE EAST SIDE
91. INTERIOR, THIRD FLOOR, BILLIARD ROOM, SOUTH WALL, DETAIL OF TRANSLUCENT CARVED MARBLE WINDOW ON THE WEST SIDE
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