PUBLIC TOURS
The Museum is open to the public on Saturdays only from 10am to 4pm, or during the week by appointment for groups and other visitors.
General Admission is $12 per adult and $10 for students and seniors, and includes a guided tour (approximately 1 hour).
Please check our calendar for the schedule of events, as prices for admission are different on those days or are reservation only tickets.
FIELD TRIPS & GROUP TOURS
Whether you are a teacher, social club, college professor, or company manager we have a tour for you. Teachers or principals can bring the history of printing and books, as well great inventors like Gutenberg and Franklin to life for your students with one of our interactive history tours.
Do you belong to a club or other organization that is looking for a unique venue for your next outing? Are you an individual who wants to learn the traditional printing or the hands-on joy of practicing the book arts, the International Printing Museum is the place for you!
We bring our world-class collection of antique printing machinery to life for people of all ages through our award-winning school outreach programs, interactive museum tours, and live entertainment in our Heritage Theater and our Book Arts Institute classes. Since 1988 we have touched over a half million people through our programs and activities, which led the Printing Industries Association of America (PIA) to honor the Museum’s staff and its successful and creative approach to interpreting our collection for the community at large.
You can reach us at 310-515-7166 for more information about our tours or you may email us at the Museum with your questions at ipm@printmuseum.org. Scroll down to read more about the tours we offer here at the Printing Museum.
FRANKLIN’S COLONIAL TOUR
Beginning with a tour through the Printing Museum’s extensive collection of working machinery, you will experience the development of the arts and technologies used to transmit ideas, including writing, paper making, printing and bookbinding. From printing a bible page on Gutenberg’s Press, to visiting Franklin’s printing shop, even watching the marvelous newspaper machines of the Industrial Revolution.
Following your gallery tour, you will step into the Heritage Theatre to view “The Inventive Dr. Franklin” video. Franklin will introduce you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery, as he aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention!
Not just for kids! Ask about our adult version of this tour!
Tour Length: 2 hours
Age: 3rd grade and up
Program Fee: $250 minimum (includes up to 25 guests); $10/guest for groups larger than 25 people
Audience Size: Up to 70
GRAPHIC ARTS TOUR
Experience firsthand the colorful and graphic world of Books and Printing!
The Museum’s Book Arts Tour is a visual journey through the graphic world of printing, paper, books and images using the world renowned collections of the Printing Museum. Your two-hour tour begins with the Chinese invention of paper and printing and continues on the the invention of the Printing Press and Gutenberg Bible. Students will print cards, posters, and bookmarks on a variety of authentic printing presses. They can also learn to bind their own simple, soft-cover books!
Add-ons! For an additional charge, teachers can select from among several additional activities, like paper making, paper marbling, and (for high-schoolers and college students) hand-setting type, and screen printing.
From lithography to typography, each tour can be customized to meet your curriculum objectives.
Duration of Tour: 2 hours
Age Level: 3rd grade and up
Fee: $350 minimum (includes 25 guests); $14/guest for groups larger than 25 people
Audience Size: Up to 50
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TOUR
Who better to arbitrate between students debating one of the great issues at America’s Constitutional Convention than one of America’s Founding Fathers?
Divided into 13 state delegations, students debate the vexing issues that faced the Founding Fathers: representation, taxation, election and the vexing question of slavery. Reading from cards, students participate in the difficult task of resolving the issues that faced our Founding Fathers, ending with their signing of the Constitution. Following the Convention, students enjoy a tour through the Museum, highlighting the great documents of history and freedom.
Tour Duration: 2 hours
Age Level: 5th grade & up
Fee: $250 minimum (includes up to 25 guests); $10/guest for groups larger than 25 people
Audience Size: Min 17; Max 70
“DOUBLE” TOURS
Please note that we charge $20-$24 per person for double tours at the Museum, depending on your selections. Options include: the Constitutional Convention ($10/guest), the “Inventive Ben Franklin” Show ($10/guest), and/or the Graphic Arts Tour ($14/guest). All field trips include a general tour of the museum.
“MUSEUM ON WHEELS” ASSEMBLIES
BEN FRANKLIN’S COLONIAL ASSEMBLY
A Museum on Wheels brings the best of the Printing Museum’s educational programs to your school. Beginning at our traveling colonial printing shop, your guide slips on an apron and steps up to Franklin’s press. With the help of students, metal type is hand set to help create his famous Poor Richard’s Almanack. With historical artifacts and quality graphics, the presentation covers the long history of books, from papyrus scrolls and manuscripts to the books and newspapers of today. Students will see a page of Gutenberg Bible, rare Chinese printing blocks, early colonial books and demonstrations of printing and bookbinding.
During the second portion of the presentation, students can view “The Inventive Dr. Franklin” video, during which Mr. Franklin presents the story of his life to students in the school auditorium, introducing you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution. Students are introduced to the world of electricity and science as Dr. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery. Franklin aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention.
Presentation Length: 2 hours
Age Level: 3rd grade and up
Fee: $750 for up to 150 students (plus $100+ mileage surcharge depending on location)
THE INVENTIVE BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
Imagine being wafted back across time for a chat with Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor, printer and statesman. The Inventive Benjamin Franklin School Assembly brings colonial America to life for your students in your school auditorium. Franklin will introduce you to his many inventions and discoveries, from swim fins to bi-focals, from the first lending library to the Constitution.
Students are introduced to the world of electricity and science as Dr. Franklin demonstrates his static electrical generator, originally used to create a battery. Throughout the one-hour presentation, Franklin aims to ignite young minds with the wonders of science and invention!
Fee: $450 for one-hour show; $200 for additional shows scheduled same day
Audience Size: Up to 120
Age Level: 3rd grade and up
