The rally on Wednesday was a success! We had a good crowd and terrific press coverage (the video of the news report can be found at www.wgem.com, search "Rockcliffe" and there's a story about the rally and a link to see the video of the news report from that evening).

It's funny, someone grumbled that we only did the rally to get on TV -- and they were absolutely right, part of the reason for the rally was to get media attention! But it isn't so that we would personally be featured, it was so that Rockcliffe could be featured, and to spread the word that Rockcliffe is in danger.

It is very, very possible that we could lose Rockcliffe as we know it, that it might be turned into a private residence, closed to tourists. This would be a blow to Hannibal's tourism efforts and the loss of one of the few homes in America that is historically accurate, a home that has never been altered or renovated since 1900.

Facts about the amazing contents of Rockcliffe:

• All of the wallpapers in the nine rooms on the first floor, except for the Music Room, retain their original wallpapers from 1900, including the Lincrusta papers in the Main Hall and Reception Room that are hand-rubbed with gold dust (this paper is reported to have cost nearly $100 per roll in 1900)
• The ten fireplaces in Rockcliffe all have hand carved, one-of-a-kind mantles, including two of mahogany. We have several blueprints showing the details of the craftsmanship of these mantles. Only two of the fireplaces are wood-burning, the other eight were installed in 1900 with gas logs, similar to the ones we use today.
• Many of the chandeliers and sconces throughout the home feature both electric and gas connections. Rockcliffe was completely wired for electric in 1900, however, because electric service was so unreliable, Mr. Cruikshank also had gas jets added to the fixtures.
• We estimate that more than 60% of all the furnishings on the first floor of Rockcliffe are original to the Cruikshank family, including draperies, furniture, fixtures, books, photographs, antiques, etc. (By contrast, the Vaile Mansion in Independence, Missouri has only one mantle clock in the entire museum that is original to the mansion!) Helen (Cruikshank) Knighton, one of Mr. Cruikshank's daughters who grew up at Rockcliffe and lived in the house next door from 1924-1987, saved these precious items over the years. When Rockcliffe opened as a museum in 1968, Helen returned all of these family heirlooms to Rockcliffe so that they could be shared with the public.
• On the second and third floor, more than 100 garments and accessories used by the Cruikshank women are on display. Dating from 1890-1920, this amazing collection includes ball gowns, hats, shoes, gloves, jewelry, fans, and purses.
• Mr. Cruikshank's original top hat, tuxedos, shirts, collars, coats, etc. are also on display.
• Sometime around 1920, Mr. Cruikshank hired a photographer to shoot photos of the interiors of Rockcliffe. These priceless photographs are displayed in nearly every room of the first and second floors of the mansion, and give us a historical reference so that we know precisely what the rooms looked like as the Cruikshanks lived at Rockcliffe and which items we have today are original to the mansion.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit Rockcliffe in person, we encourage you to do so! Tours are daily, beginning at 10am and start on the hour. You will then understand why we are fighting so hard to preserve this historic landmark, its remarkable collection of artifacts, and the stories of life in Hannibal in 1900.