Twainfest's Rocket to the Moon
WELCOME ABOARD! Blast off with Twainfest for an exploration of the universe as envisioned by writers of the 19th century and before.
Festival-goers will board the Twainfest space ship "Paul Jones." (So named after the riverboat Mark Twain first trained on as a pilot). Then soar, 19th century-style, past Cyrano de Bergerac's dew-infused bottle belt to Jules Vern's rocket train shot from a cannon. Glide across the lunar surface to view life on the moon as depicted in the 1835 New York Sun.
This special event is scheduled for Twainfest's 10th anniversary celebration.
Lucien of Samosata
Lucien of Samosata
Lucien of Samosata
His account of a whirlwind that swept earthlings up to the moon was described in his treatise: "A True History" (c. 120 CE).
Francis Godwin
Lucien of Samosata
Lucien of Samosata
Bishop Godwin speculates about interplanetary space flight in "The Man in the Moone." (1638).
Cyrano de Bergerac
Lucien of Samosata
Cyrano de Bergerac
From his "Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon and Sun." (1657)
Jules Verne
New York Sun 1835
Cyrano de Bergerac
From the Earth to the Moon. (1867)
J. J. Astor
New York Sun 1835
New York Sun 1835
A Journey in Other Worlds (1894).
New York Sun 1835
New York Sun 1835
New York Sun 1835
A series of articles revealed discoveries of life on the moon. Falsely attributed to renown astronomer Sir John Herschel, the paper's readership increased.