News Release 507

BIRTHDAY PARTY AND INFORMATIONAL MEETING PLANNED
NOV. 30 FOR MARK TWAIN BIRTHPLACE STATE HISTORIC SITE

Volume 34-507

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 14, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will celebrate Mark Twain's 171st birthday anniversary from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site in Florida, Mo. During the anniversary party, at 1 p.m., an informational meeting will be held to discuss issues related to Mark Twain Birthplace and Union Covered Bridge state historic sites. Both events are open to the public.

As part of the birthday celebration, the site will offer free admission to the Mark Twain Memorial Shrine as well as free refreshments. In addition, a drawing for door prizes will take place each hour. Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight" and National Geographic Society's "Mark Twain: When I Was A Boy" will be shown in the audio-visual room throughout the anniversary party.

The informational meeting will be held in the historic site's museum. Staff from Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, which oversees the operation of Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site near Paris, will be on hand to provide information on future developments and to encourage discussion on what the public sees as areas of concern for either site. Progress on the renovation of Union Covered Bridge will be discussed.

During the meeting, a representative from the Missouri Department of Transportation will share an update on the status of the recently closed bridge over the North Fork of the Salt River on Highway 107. This bridge is north of the historic site and affects visitors coming from or going to the Hannibal area.

The informational meeting is part of an ongoing effort by the department to ensure that the public has input on services provided in state parks and historic sites.

Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site is located adjacent to the village of Florida in Mark Twain State Park off of Highway 107. Persons requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling the historic site directly at 573-565-3440 or by calling the department toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf ). For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

###