International Printing Museum facts for kids
Peter Small demonstrating the museum's Gutenberg press
|
|
| Established | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Location | 315 W. Torrance Blvd. Carson, California |
| Type | Media museum |
The International Printing Museum is a special place in Carson, California. It has one of the biggest collections of old printing presses in the United States. The museum teaches visitors all about printing. It even has a special printing press on a trailer. This trailer travels to schools and events. It shows how people used to print things long ago.
The museum also helps Hollywood movies and TV shows. They rent out old printing presses for filming.
Discovering the Museum's History and Amazing Collection
The museum started in 1988. David Jacobson and Ernest A. Lindner created it. They wanted a home for Lindner's large collection of old printing machines. Over the years, the collection has grown. Many important donations and new items have been added. This growth happened under the museum's leaders. Mark Barbour was the first curator and director.
The museum has a copy of a Gutenberg press. Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type. Time magazine called his invention one of the most important of the last 1,000 years. Before Gutenberg, books were very expensive. Most ordinary people could not afford to own one.
Gutenberg's invention made printing much cheaper. Soon, many more people in Europe could buy books. They could even buy their own Bibles. This meant people could read and think for themselves. This led to big changes like the Protestant Reformation. It also helped bring about the Enlightenment and democracy.
The museum also has a very old American printing press. It is the third oldest one made in America. Two hundred years ago, people called it a "common press." This is the type of press Ben Franklin used in his printing business. Franklin did not have much formal schooling. But he became very good with words as a printer's helper.
As an adult, Franklin earned his living as a printer. He published the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanack. He was very proud of being a printer. Even when he met kings and queens, he would simply say, "I am Benjamin Franklin, a printer." He would not mention his science or political achievements.
The museum also has printing presses from the time of Mark Twain. He also had little formal education. But he learned a lot as a printer's helper for the Hannibal Journal. Later, he worked as an editor and reporter. He wrote for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise and other newspapers. The museum also has many Linotype machines. These are machines that set type for newspapers. Other presses and newspaper machines are also at the museum.
This museum is a "working museum." This means that much of the equipment still works. Visitors can often see staff and volunteers using the machines. They print official museum materials and personal projects. Students can also take classes to learn how to use the printing equipment safely. This helps the museum show visitors how printing was done long ago.
Exciting Programs and Events at the Museum
The museum hosts many fun events and programs. Every first Saturday of October, they hold the Los Angeles Printers Fair. They also have many school programs and special events.
Here are some of the programs you can enjoy:
- The Inventive Ben Franklin
- Franklin's Colonial Assembly
- Constitutional Convention Tour
- The Dickens Holiday Celebration
- Franklin Gallery Tour
- Book Arts Tour
- Book Arts and Printing Classes
- Scout Merit Badge Program
- L.A. Printers Fair
The museum also has a special trailer. This trailer holds a Ben-Franklin-type printing press. It travels to schools and public events. This way, the museum can share its living history programs with even more people.
