Attended a foil printing class here and enjoyed it immensely. Easy to book online, enter through the roller door at the back of the museum, free easy parking, friendly volunteer staff and free cold water bottles. You use vintage presses and your choice of coloured foil to create foiled letterhead on the envelopes and cards provided. (If you are wanting something a little special, bring your own stationery to print on). Printing does require some dexterity, fiddliness, patience and reverse thinking for the images, but it will click quickly and you will be off on your own printing your own phrases or some that are already prepared, feeling like a pro! There are a lot of different classes held here, including book binding which looks popular and is definitely on our list for future classes. Amazing little museum we didn't know about, and we should have! Go enjoy a class or just peek in the museum, it is extremely well laid out and very interesting. read more

We absolutely loved our stop here today! Unfortunately we had to leave before we got to complete the entire tour due to my job so definitely allow yourself about 2hrs or more for this!! But we will make our way back here to see the rest of the museum and finish our tour. Peter was absolutely phenomenal and shared so much history with us. From real life examples to taking home a keepsake... this was such a marvelous time. We learned so much and really can't wait to come back! Thank you! read more

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Visited the International Printing Museum with the Boy Scouts and really enjoyed it. It's a charming, slightly off-the-beaten-path museum run by passionate and knowledgeable volunteers. You can essentially trace the entire history of printing, letterpress, and the graphic arts through an impressive collection of working machines and exhibits. Very cool place and well worth a visit. read more

Popped in to see what was going on in this little museum and found that it is much larger than expected. Not only did we get a great tour and see how some of this old equipment works. We also got a history lesson and a Linotype slug souvenir. Highly recommend going in on a Saturday for the tour. They also have various classes offered, which is amazing. read more

The International Printing Museum - Linotype slug - Museums Near Me - Carson, California

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This printing museum in Carson is so interesting. You can see the advancement of this printed word over the centuries. Very educational hands on tour throughout history. Hopefully books and newspapers are here to stay and won't be forgotten. The printing press was first invented in China in the first century. read more

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Everyone should check out The International Printing Museum! I got to attend their annual Printer's Fair and they had so many small business booths that specialize in various printing methods. The museum itself is huge, there is so much to see and learn. I didn't know we could even use a couple of their printing presses dating back to the 1800's!?! The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, they gave me so many fun facts about the presses and the museum. I got to take home my personalized keepsake metal type stamp and a couple of my self-printed bookmarks and copy of the constitution. This is the perfect place to go for an interactive date night or family day! read more

The International Printing Museum - Museums Near Me - Carson, California

Very cool space, much better than I anticipated. It does not look like much from the outside but it does house a lot more than you think. Definitely worth a stop. read more

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I recently took a textile printing class here. I loved it. I want to thank Glenn Laird, the screen printing expert. His experience and knowledge are superb. The class was very hands-on. He gave detailed explanations for every part of the process. I left feeling so inspired. I have already printed many t-shirts and tote bags using my own designs! I cannot wait for the next class in January. Highly recommend this museum and their classes read more

Let's set expectations straight: I came on the free museum day that happens throughout the county, and was expecting just to look at some dusty machinery and be on my way. I WAS DEAD WRONG. This was such a fun AND informative visit and now I must sing the song of the International Printing Museum for all. I was honestly blown away by how much I learned. The guides lead you through the "eras" of printing, and they actually demonstrate everything - it was SO cool. I've heard the word "Linotype" all my life and I never knew what that entailed until now, but really it's the demonstrations that make a difference. All of the staff are very knowledgeable, and after our tour, they had a bunch of different stations set up for you to try some hands on printing yourself. I really heartily recommend this for everyone. They have a lot of events coming up - check it out!! read more

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Wonderful collection of historic presses--definitely do the tour. I've been wanting to visit this place for years and finally made the time to visit. They're only open on Saturdays 10-4 so it took me a while to pin down a date. Located in an unassuming industrial area of Carson, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside is a veritable treasure trove of printing technologies from the past couple of centuries. The hubby and I hadn't planned on checking out the (free) tour, but we're so glad we did. We didn't realize they had continuous tours going on all day, and we happened to catch one right at the start (you can enter in at multiple points in the tour). Starting with a replica of a press from colonial times and ending with linotype machines from mid 20th century, the knowledgeable tour guides (all dedicated volunteers) regaled us with interesting facts and demonstrations from the various stations. Having been a graphic designer for many years, it was fascinating to see the physical origins of printing technology that is now all digital. Admission was $12, which I thought was a fair price for this kind of experience. They also hold letterpress and bookbinding classes, merit badge days for scouts, and host an annual printers fair in the fall that I hope to make one of these years! read more

A unique and wonderful museum to visit and experience the history of printing! I really enjoyed the personal and hands on aspects of this experience! A wonderful place! read more

Took a group of over 20 homeschool kids to a tour of the International Printing Press today. It was fantastic! The museum had a huge array of printing presses and cool things to see. We had two great guides who took the kids on a trip back in time where they learned all about Benjamin Franklin and his life, The Gutenberg Press and how it worked, how the industrial revolution impacted printing and more! The kids were able to print their own pages and book marks, as well as assemble and bind their own little booklets. Amazing tour and place to visit. Highly recommend checking it out, great for all ages! read more

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My kids have been coming to this museum for years with field trips and with Boy Scouts and I have never been with them until they hosted their printing fair. What is amazing experience to see so many different talented vendors doing letterpress to type setting to silk screen - all sorts of things. But also to see all the big machines that people could learn about to learn about history of printing but also the art of printing. I highly recommend making a trip down here for one of their events. It is fascinating and you might even get to try to make something yourself! read more

The International Printing Museum - Papermum press is here at the fair with their letterpresses cards! #makesmewander - Museums Near Me - Carson, California

My girlfriends and I really enjoyed our tour. A great hidden gem to visit. So much fun!!

Great workshops! Great community of volunteers and people who are just passionate about print. I took a book binding workshop with Lorna and learned the basics quickly. She is a great instructor who isn't married to one traditional technique, she is open to learning from others and letting students do what works best for them. read more

My aunt is visiting from out of state and I came across an offer via Groupon. We happened to be having lunch in the area and decided to redeem it (ironically it was Saturday and the only day it is open to the public without any appointments). Honestly, I was not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised! Was taken through a fantastic one hour guided tour which was interesting and much needed as I would have never known the history behind each printing machine, how it worked, etc. All of the museum employees were very friendly, helpful, and quizzed you along the way. You also receive a complimentary "press" (quote or name) printed on a sheet of paper as a souvenir. Plenty of street parking is available and was not very busy (first customers around 1pm). read more

Such a cool space! Your can see printing presses and learn about them too! They have yearly events with hands on interactive activities. Perfect for kids - including adult kids lol. Check out their website for different events during the year. They even have classes. read more

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It was fun to explore this museum (free admission courtesy of smithsonian magazine museum day) today! There's a tour every hour and the docent is very thorough with his stories, we had Peter. Enjoyed the tour and then did some printing activities by making a greeting card. Also took home a printed Declaration of Independence document! Lots to learn and it's a small place so an hour should suffice. Free parking. read more

The International Printing Museum - Printing press - Museums Near Me - Carson, California

What a splendid museum! I found this place via the free "Museum Day Live!" promotion event in September. Definitely worth the regular admissions price. Free parking available in the private parking lot to the left of the entrance. Ticket Pricing: $10 || general admission $8 || students & seniors Cash, check, and credit cards are all accepted. Guided Tour Review: The interactive, hour-long guided tour is included with admission. These tours are ongoing, so you can join the current group in session and stay with them until you get back to the exhibit you started at. The tour guides are entertaining and extremely knowledgeable of every printing machine on display. Almost every exhibit has a neat demo of the machine in action. The guides demonstrate how the machines work and provide a comprehensive walk through printing history. When the main Linotype machine is up and running, you can get a stamp casting of your name for $1 as a souvenir. At the end of the tour, you'll also be able to hand-print a complimentary bookmark to keep. This is a wonderful museum to learn about new things. Even if you don't care so much for history, this place is guaranteed to add value & a sprinkle of joy to your day :) read more

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We came here for the boy scout merit badge day and I was blown away. Imagine learning everything about the printing and paper industries on one day and getting as merit badge for each. We got the chance to operate a more modern printing press, see them use a typewriter-like device to turn molten lead into type (Getting to take home our own name in the process), printer like Benjamin Franklin would have printed, make old fashioned prints, see and actually assemble a small booklet from a single page of paper, learn about the large scale paper makers and printers, even make our own paper and print our own silk screen T-Shirts. If you are looking for a hands-on day for your kids, or a day for yourself as an adult to experience all these things, I would highly recommend this place on BSA Merit Badge Day or any other time. The staff was great, well knowledgeable and patient. You could not ask for anything more. We had people in the group from all over the US that come to attend this event. The sign-ups on this day are limited and go quick, so make your reservation early. I have been waiting 3 years to sign up before it was sold out to attend and finally got the opportunity. This was an Eopic place and an Epic event read more

What a cool place. The two men who do the tours are so knowledgeable and the whole experience was cool to see. Especially since the world of printing has taken such a backseat to digital advancements in the past decade. Highly recommend checking out these relics. read more

There are just so many interesting little tidbits about the history of printing I had no idea about, nor did I know how fascinating it would be to learn them. But lo and behold: it was! The tour guides were friendly, informative, fun to talk to, and walked us through the history of the printed word where even the smallest of details proved to be worth learning. Oh, and we left with some awesome souveniers! Do yourself a favor and check this place out! read more

We have been wanting to visit this museum forever. But their days of operation didn't seem to match our availability. So finally, for Socal Free Museum day, we decided that was our chance! The museum is quite easy to find, with free parking as it sits in an industrial business park(?) on Torrance Blvd. When we entered, we were advised by a staff member that the tours are group guided by a docent. We felt good about this because we definitely loved hearing about the histories of each printing machine and their varied components. The docent was also very knowledgable and detailed in explaining each apparatus and how it evolved through time, from printing books, newspapers, flyers, and other literature. He also actively demonstrated the printing process from back in the day, which was really interesting. During the tour, we reached a point where they asked everyone to write a few words (a name or phrase) on a card, that they would turn into a linotype slug for you as a souvenir. After they generated this piece of metal, we went over to the print shop where (with the help of another gentleman) we put our slugs into another machine, that printed a little flyer commemorating our visit. I don't think I've been this impressed with anything at a museum or elsewhere in a really long time. And that is what sets them apart from the rest for me. On your way out, you have opportunities to engage in some other stamping or printing activities. The gift shop has little mementos for children, young adults, and older adults too. If you ever have free time during one of their open days, you should consider dropping in. read more

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I really like this small museum! The staffs here were so friendly and full of knowledge. Good collection of all the print machines from everywhere in the world. I love their interactive presentation on different print machine, and I don't think it's just for kids. I learned a lot from it too. They seemed to have lots event as well. They are non-profit, so I'd love to see them doing well by our support! read more

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Love this museum. It's a real hidden gem in the LA area and I wish more people knew about it. They have a fabulous collection of presses and offer a very hands on learning experience for people of all ages. I have taken both of my kids here on separate occasions (I think 9-12 is an ideal age). They get to print a page of the Gutenberg bible on a historically accurate reproduction press. They also get to see the third oldest working press in America from 1806. In addition they get to print their own linotype/intertype "slug" and watch it get created right in front of their eyes - the molten metal cools off right in front of you. It's one of the coolest souvenirs (included in admission price) that you will get at any museum. Couldn't recommend this place any more highly. I love it. read more

I'm not sure I can rave enough about the International Printing Museum. It is well worth every second of time, and the $10 paid for admission. The museum is tour driven, and not in a boring "talking at you" kind of way. It is very intimate, engaging, and full of amazing live demonstrations of print making through the centuries. I honestly hung on every word, even though I knew some of the information. The history within the museum is two-fold, both of the subject matter itself, as well as the man who collected the pieces to create this museum, which helps to bring warmth and heart to the presses and highlights their value and significance. We interacted with four docent volunteers during our visit, each with a massive wealth of knowledge, as well as enthusiastic and nice. Your admission also gets you your own personalized linotype slug. Which, to watch that happen was a joy in itself, then to come home with a linotype slug with your name on it, was just too cool. Sadly, we arrived just an hour before closing, and our tour took most of our time, but we could have easily stayed for at least another half hour if not hour just really looking at the craftsmanship of the machines. We bought loads at the gift shop too, on postcards, prints, and the documentary on linotype, and honestly could have bought more! I honestly can't wait to go back, especially for one of their many events. And my husband and I are already planning on becoming members. Other details... Cost for one adult as of August 20, 2016: $10 and yes, they take cards. Time spent: 1 hour (guided), could have easily spent more. Parking: Small private lot. read more

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Great museum! Free parking in the adjacent lot (plenty of space). They have limited hours (check their website ahead of time), but visitors are offered a free 90-minute tour. We had a lovely, informative tour guide who walked us through the history of the various presses (from Gutenberg-style presses to Unitype machines). She let us print a page on one of the presses and even showed us how to cast a punch from hot metal (and then let us keep both the page and the punch!). Most impressively, they had a working Linotype machine that they cast a slug on right in front of us. read more

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I expected to look at some old printing presses for 20 minutes and leave. Instead, we showed up and the one-hour (actually 1 hour and 15 minute) tour began just for us. We were the only visitors the entire stay. The well-rounded tour was both history lesson and printing demonstration that included printing a page using a recreated Gutenberg press. With a Linotype machine, they created a metal typecast "slug" with our names that we got to keep. They also inked and printed using the slug. High score for uniqueness because where else are you going to get a custom slug? Only open on Saturdays, check their website to make sure a special event doesn't interfere with visiting. Free parking in their private lot. read more

They staff here are very knowledgeable and informative. They will provide an exceptional experience for all ages. There's a lot of old press machines that are still working. In addition to the wide range of machines they have arts and crafts for children. read more

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I've been living in the south bay how long? And passed this place up how many times? It's literally across the street from K-Mart & in the same plaza as that Ebenezer Mission Church place. So this place isn't your typical looking museum- sure it has a lot of old artifacts inside but its not as grand as say the Peterson Museum. So what's there to see/learn at a printing museum? Well the people here do a lot to keep your attention. First off they have an actor playing the role of Ben. Franklin (if I remember correctly) they give you cool souvenirs (I can't even describe to you what I got) and they're very interested in teaching you some US History. Don't ask me what I learned because well I have a horrible memory and history has NEVER been my thing. But I do remember thinking, "Ohh yeah!" I'm very convincing right? Sorry. So this place also offers something like script classes-supposedly it's useful for art students? Anyway the people here are VERY enthusiastic about their work so check this place out when you have time. Also I think they host some type of printing fair- yeah never heard of it either but apparently it's pretty popular! read more

There is nothing sexier than a printing museum. A place that captures the romantic and arduous history of print-making. This place was really something to behold. I just hope it will be preserved for many years to come. I learned so much the day I visited; we started with a tour going over the history of print, from Ancient China to the Gutenberg press. I loved the historical printing machines and the fact that a lot of them still work! They have an OG Heidelberg (remember when Rosario used it Seven Pounds?) and Linotype. Our tour guide was perfect - extremely knowledgeable, funny without being cheesy and kinda quirky too. :) If you can arrange to spend some time in the back at the Book Arts center, it will be worth your time. I hand pressed three pieces from the vast selection of presses they have. I definitely would come back for a class or five... read more

I was attending an event at the International Printing Museum last week and was happily surprised at how interesting the museum was. Mark Barbour, the Executive Director, walked our group through all of printing's history and showed us a huge collection of machines, most of which he used to make souvenirs for our group. I took home a printed envelope from the first desktop printing machine, a remnant of the Civil War. What made the event great was Mark Barbour. He is very entertaining. I completely understand why teachers bring their students to the museum. As a book publisher, I gained a lot of knowledge and a stronger appreciation for the art of making books. He, also, took our group into the warehouse to show off the off-set lithography machine. A huge treat! read more

This is such an awesome place. Full of history and interesting trivia such as origin of upper and lowercase, mind your p's and q's and more. The docents are full of great info and truly educate in the art and skill of printing, bookmaking and type setting. Fascinating. I would strongly urge anyone to go visit. They give you a unique souvenir as well. Cost is $8 per adult. $7 per student. A must see!!! read more

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A place that captures the soul, art, and beauty of print that will charm all ages! First of all - why hasn't anyone mentioned that this place is tour driven? As soon as we walked in and paid the student price ($8/per person) this sweet old man started us on our own 2 person personal tour. A few other college students came in 10 minutes after we started and joined us - which was a relief that our guide's efforts would be well spent on more than just us. The museum spans two buildings - including a pristine front area with genuine working print presses spanning 100+ years, a back work area, and a separate work building for classes and demonstrations. Our guide Walt had oodles of historical knowledge and incorporated "fun facts" and demonstrations from press to press. My boyfriend and I walked away with lots of historical stories and fun facts about things we use in our everyday life. Near the end of the tour our group was escorted to the separate back building where we were given a demonstration on the actual printer that was used in The Twilight Zone episode "The Printer's Devil" (this was actually the reason we came). The museum has several printers they've rented out for movies - just ask and they'll show you which ones! During the demo we wrote our names down and had real slugs from the printer produced! They even printed from our slugs on to mini posters and got to let us keep them! How neat! If you want the same take home experience be sure to come on a Saturday as they can't guarantee they'll have the printers in production any other day. This was such a learning environment, spurred on by a warm, intelligent staff that was great for a Saturday adventure. We're even coming back for the fair on October 3rd. Check it out! read more

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Fun place to visit, especially when they host special workshop, reenactment or holiday events (in which I occasionally appear)...!

We visited on Kid Kraft day. It was the best field trip for both adults and children. All the volunteers are very knowledgeable and created a fun, learning environment. We cant wait until our next visit! read more

This is a wonderful magical place! I own TheBoxSF. com in San Francisco, CA, and we sell rare printed material, much of which was done on presses like they have here! They have created a wonderful interactive museum of time gone by, and there is no question that the International Printing Museum in Carson CA is a MUST SEE when in Southern California! Everytime I go, I see things I missed before. Tell them I sent you! read more

I had discovered this place from my Huell Howser Map. It looked interesting, and it was right on the route to the primary destination where I was headed. My friend and I left early, and arrived there shortly after they opened. We found our way to the entrance, and walked right in. There wasn't anybody to greet us, so we started immediately just looking at the printing machines. Eventually somebody came to tell us that there would be no tours because there was a Boy Scout Troop visiting all day. So, they didn't charge us the ten dollar entry fee. So my friend and I meandered around the place, looking at the old printing presses. They've got lots of interesting things to see and touch and learn about. A replica of the 1439 Johannes Gutenberg printing press was the most prominent. It was neat to see where the moveable type printing press began. Along the walls, there were large murals depicting several of the iconic printing devices in action. Since I didn't have a tour guide, I had to make due with other visual learning sources. Wandering around the place unguided took us about an hour. I would stop and listen into a discussion with a group of Boy Scouts. So I gleaned some snippits of useful information here and there. Occasionally, a docent would walk past as we were looking at a machine, and give us a ten second briefing on the device. How it worked, how it changed the world, who made it. It was neat. We circled the place, sponging up whatever information we could. I would like to go back for a guided tour to learn more of the details and see the artifacts in action. From the other reviews, they look like a lot of fun. But who knows when that will be. Meandering around was quite interesting and fun enough. Unfortunately, there were no refrigerator magnets at the 'gift shop' to add to my collection. So, this particular visit was completely free. Not bad at all for a first 'exploratory' visit to a museum. For More Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Gutenberg For More Information:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_printing read more

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We visited on the Smithsonian Free Museum Day, having never heard of it before. This museum is a hidden gem. We were given a tour by Peter, who was knowledgeable and entertaining, as well as a great presenter and demonstrator. He showed us how movable type worked and how printing was done in Gutenberg's time using a **working** replica of a Gutenberg press as well as on a printing press from the colonial times. He demonstrated several other presses dating back to the early days of the United States and western frontier. He pitched the presentation perfectly for both the adults and children in our group. We ended the tour with another volunteer showing us how the linotype machine worked and we even got to watch him create messages using our own words. Each of us got to take home an actual line of lino type that we can use later as a stamp. Like Peter, he was very knowledgeable and welcomed questions from everyone in the group, spending a lot of time interacting with us. The museum had a vast collection of printing presses. It was a pleasure to see how they worked and to helped with some of the hands-on processes. The staff and volunteers were very welcoming and super friendly, eager and happy to share their knowledge and expertise. We had a fantastic time visiting this amazing museum. Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who made it such a worthwhile and entertaining visit! read more

This was SO FUN! I just heard about this place and checked out their site, so I knew I had to join as a vendor for the LA Printers' Fair. What a cool event. It was super laid-back and all the patrons seemed to have a great time. Many of them knew a lot about prints, which is pretty unusual. Though I didn't sell anything at this one, I did make some cool contacts and got to check the place out. I'm planning to buy one of the letterpresses they've got- they have TONS for great prices ($750!!), plus lots of type for sale. Rad place, will be back! read more