Bermuda Governor Aims To Reclaim Twain, Bring Tourism Back to the Islands
Bermuda Gov. George Fergusson and his wife Margaret visited The Mark Twain House & Museum Tuesday. Here, he speaks with the apprentices of the Write to the Point! studio.
By Writing Apprentices
Twain Studios
HARTFORD, Conn. – Hoping to rebuild the historic connection between the North American east coast and his island home Bermuda Governor George Fergusson said Tuesday that he wants to host an exhibit featuring Mark Twain’s ties to the islands.
Twain “did Bermuda a good turn,” said Fergusson, in a visit to The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford.
The American author traveled to Bermuda 10 to 20 times and wrote enthusiastically about the islands during his lifetime. Fergusson said that he hopes the exhibit will bring variety to the tourism that already exists in Bermuda.
“Bermuda is a place to go not just for a nice beach, but if you’re interested in history, military fortifications, birdlife,” said Fergusson. “Bermuda’s only two hours away and close to your culture here.”
Twain wasn’t the only artistic superstar to visit the islands. Bermuda hosted a plethora of artists, such as
James Bond novelist Ian Fleming and painter Winslow Homer.
Princess Louise of Ottowa, Canada, a member of the British royal family and Twain’s contemporary, started tourism in Bermuda, said Fergusson, when she began visiting the islands in the winter.
Bermuda’s balmy climate must have seemed like a welcome departure from the cold weather of Ottawa, Fergusson said.
The Apprentices of the Write to the Point! studio collaborated on this story. Photos by Molly Miller.
Write to the Point! 