Hannibal Seeking More Canadian Visitors

Mark Twain's hometown already attracts hundreds of thousands of American tourists each year. Now, tourism officials in Hannibal, Mo., are hoping to bring in more Canadians.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reports the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau is partnering with the Missouri Division of Tourism in the new international outreach.

Research indicates that Canadians are particularly interested in some sites and historic figures from Missouri. Hannibal's tourism director, Gail Bryant, says the top three reasons international travelers come to Missouri are to see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and to learn about Jesse James and Mark Twain.

Twain was born Samuel Clemens in Florida, Mo., in 1835, but grew up in Hannibal.