Fundraising Drive At Hartford's Twain House Aims To Repair Vandalism

HARTFORD, CT — The beloved Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford has been besieged by vandals in recent days, with the museum now embarking on a fundraising campaign to make necessary repairs and improve security there.

The museum, the historic site that was once the famous author's home in Connecticut, has set up a GoFundMe page and is looking to raise $20,000, with the museum as of Friday morning reporting $6,666 toward that goal.

According to the museum, the vandals struck over the holidays on Dec. 23, Dec. 31 and Jan. 3.

Museum officials report that in all three instances, a group of three individuals has hit the museum building with rocks, chunks of asphalt and, even, bricks.

Several windows were smashed and one brick struck a Venus de Medici statue inside and damaged it, removing several fingers from the artwork.

The Hartford Police Department is investigating the incidents.
"We at The Mark Twain House & Museum are reviewing ways to improve the resilience of the structure and increase site security," wrote museum officials.

"In addition to repairing the windows, we are adding more security cameras and lighting, and hiring overnight security personnel. Local police were notified after the first incident and are conducting an investigation."

Proceeds from the fundraising drive will fund, not only repairs, but increased security measures as museum officials are concerned vandals will return.

The Mark Twain House & Museum is located at 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, and it can be reached at 860-247-0998.

Anyone with information on the vandalism incidents can reach the Hartford Police Department at 860-757-4000.

For more information on the Mark Twain House & Museum, click on this link.

To donate to the GoFundMe page to repair the museum, click on this link.