Mark Twain Centennial at Central High School

Fred Lynch

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A "riverboat excursion" in the library of Central High School was the setting for a visit by Mark Twain and other entertainers on April 13, 2010, as part of Missouri's Read MOre literary emphasis. Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, died April 21, 1910, at age 74.

Mark Twain, portrayed by George Frein, talks about his life as a riverboat pilot during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Capt. Mike Cowan greets the passengers aboard the Nebraska riverboat on May 21, 1861, during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at Central High School. Cowan said they were one of the last boats to get through the blockade in Memphis. "Union soldiers boarded and searched our boat in Cairo," he said. "I need to get back to the Captain's House. I have given orders to Pilot Josh Crowell to provide passengers with entertainment, and I hope that he provides a pleasurable boat ride." (Fred Lynch)
The audience watches Jasmine Roberts perform with a small globe during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday in the library at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Quitman McBride III sings "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat!" during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

Brodrick Twiggs, left, and Ben Hendricks sing "World's Apart" from the musical Big River during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Brendon Lee plays and sings "Dixie" in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, one of his favorites, according to pilot Josh Crowell, during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Becky Thatcher, portrayed by Lessley Dennington, presents Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Lydia Alford performs tricks with two flat discs on a string during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Nancy Schiller, first mate aboard the Nebraska riverboat, judges the Tom Sawyer look-alike contest during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

Nebraska riverboat pilot Josh Crowell, left, conducts a paper jumping frog contest with third-grade students from Jefferson Elementary School during the Mark Twain Centennial event Tuesday at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)
Chalen Robinson, a third-grader at Jefferson Elementary School, meets Mark Twain, portrayed by George Frein, during the riverboat pilot's visit Tuesday to Central High School aboard the riverboat Nebraska. (Fred Lynch)