The Mark Twain House & Museum Completes Fundraising Campaign to Place Headstone on George Griffin’s New York City Grave
Hartford, CT (January 16, 2026) — The Mark Twain House & Museum announced today that it has met and exceeded its fundraising goal for the George Griffin Headstone Fund, ensuring that George Griffin will receive a permanent monument at his gravesite in New York City.
George Griffin was Mark Twain’s butler, a trusted friend within the Clemens household, and a significant part of the story interpreted at the Mark Twain House in Hartford. Born enslaved, likely in Maryland, Griffin escaped to freedom during the Civil War and served in the Union Army. After the war, he came to Hartford and became the Clemens family’s butler, managing the household and staff with professionalism and dignity. Mark Twain once called him “one of the best men I ever knew.”
“This campaign was driven by a shared belief that George Griffin deserves lasting recognition,” said Jeffrey L. Nichols, Executive Director of The Mark Twain House & Museum. “We are deeply grateful to every member and donor who helped make this monument possible.”
The headstone inscription and final details are now being finalized. The monument will be designed, manufactured, and engraved by The Lewis Monument Company of Glendale, Queens. Installation of the monument and a dedication ceremony are planned for this spring. Additional details will be shared as dates are confirmed.
Learn more about the campaign:
https://marktwainhouse.org/support/george-griffin-headstone-fund/
Background announcement:
https://marktwainhouse.org/2025/11/24/mark-twain-house-museum-launches-campaign-to-place-monument-on-new-york-city-grave-of-george-griffin-shrewd-wise-member-of-twains-household/
To learn more about the campaign and initiative, visit: George Griffin Headstone Fund – Mark Twain House
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About The Mark Twain House & Museum
The Mark Twain House & Museum is the restored Hartford, Connecticut home where Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote many of his most iconic works there, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The museum continues to honor Twain’s literary legacy through tours, educational programs, and cultural events.
For general information about the Mark Twain House, please visit:
Media Contact:
Albinko Hasic
albinko.hasic@marktwainhouse.org
(860) 280-3152