Literary Missouri

From childhood to the twilight years, Missouri has been the home of several major authors. Some have major museums or collections highlighting their work; others invite deeper research. Visiting the sites on the Missouri Author Adventures Trail lets the “Show-Me State” show you a sampling of its literary pride.

Click any link below for author and place information:

A. Mark Twain, Hannibal
B. Eugene Field, St. Louis
C. Gerald Early, St. Louis
D. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mansfield
E. Rose Cecil O’Neill, Walnut Shade

Noteworthy

The early childhood homes of writers Maya Angelou and T.S. Eliot are both designated historic landmarks in Missouri, though neither home is open to the public. Read more about Maya Angelou places at Maya Angelou in Arkansas and about a T.S. Eliot home in Massachusetts here: https://tseliot.com.
Several highly respected African-American scholars, journalists, and playwrights who once lived in Missouri and published historically significant works are well worth noting, even though their Missouri homes either no longer exist, are not accessible to the public, or are unknown. They include Lorenzo Greene (Lincoln University), Ntozake Shange (Broadway), Arvahr Strickland (University of Missouri at Columbia), among many other important figures.
Bestselling mid-century science fiction writer Robert Heinlein is a Missouri native who does not have a home that is open to the public there. He was, however, known for designing and building futuristic houses where he and his wife lived in later years in California and Colorado. These homes have undergone major changes and are no longer accessible.
Legendary playwright Tennessee Williams attended but did not graduate from the University of Missouri. Read about other places to visit that are connected to him in these states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.