Welcome to The Mark Twain House & Museum's
Gardens and Grounds
Founded in 1929 and operating as a public museum since 1974, the Mark Twain House & Museum celebrates the life and legacy of Samuel L. Clemens as one of our nation’s defining cultural figures. The museum serves the public by preserving the historic Mark Twain House which has been meticulously restored over a period of many years and is designated a National Historic Landmark. The Museum also offers exhibitions and numerous educational and cultural programs for students, teachers, and the public.
When the Clemens family lived here, there was a large greenhouse on the lawn between their house and the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Olivia Clemens loved having fresh flowers in the house and the family employed gardeners who tended to the greenhouse plants and the many gardens around the property. The first gardener who worked for the family was Daniel Molloy. Olivia gave Daniel a book called Practical Floriculture which still exists. Daniel marked up this book in ways that give us some evidence of what might have been planted. The second gardener was John O’Neill. John was particularly well known in Hartford for growing beautiful flowers.
Today, the Mark Twain House gardens and conservatory are under the watchful care of University of Connecticut Master Gardeners. For over a decade they have worked with the plantings and landscaping on the grounds, combining a staggering amount of horticultural skill with an artist’s eye, and creatively incorporating historical hints and tributes into their work.
We have eleven gardens on the Mark Twain House & Museum property. These gardens are in bloom spring to fall each year with various seasonal plants.
Learn More About Our Gardens
The Mark Twain House & Museum is located in the historic Nook Farm neighborhood.
Learn More About Our Grounds
Like many upper-class late Victorian homes‚ the Clemens home had a conservatory. Theirs had a fountain and was filled with lush‚ thriving plants. Clemens daughters Susy‚ Clara and Jean called this room “The Jungle.”
Learn More About Our Conservatory
Help us map the different microclimates here at the museum! Use your observational skills to check off every plant you see blooming in our gardens.
Try One of our Garden Scavenger Hunts
The conservatory, gardens, and grounds at The Mark Twain House & Museum are cared for by a team of University of Connecticut Master Gardeners and skilled volunteers. They keep our landscape and conservatory looking its best all year round. We want to take this opportunity to thank them for all they do. Thank you to our 2022 Gardens and Grounds volunteers: Christie, Cindy, Ed, Gail, Jill, and Susan (pictured) and our 2022 Conservatory volunteers: Helena, Larry, Liz, and Mary.
To volunteer or request more information, please fill out the Garden Volunteer Information Brochure and send it to Director of Collections Jodi DeBruyne at jodi.debruyne@marktwainhouse.org
Latest News
Connecticut’s Historic Gardens is pleased to announce artist Christopher Thelin of Farmington, CT as the winner of the 9th annual Historic Gardens Day Poster Art Contest. “Stanley Whitman House” is a pen and watercolor depiction of the garden on the west side of the house. This contest gives local and regional artists a chance to showcase their talents while advertising CT Historic Gardens Day, an important, statewide event. The group began the contest to encourage Connecticut artists to visit and capture these historically significant homes with beautiful gardens. They hope that these sites will provide inspiring subjects for their art.
Visit the CT Historic Garden's Website