Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum with Photos and Videos

Coordinates: 34°25′21″N 119°42′18″W / 34.4225358°N 119.7048869°W / 34.4225358; -119.7048869

The Karpeles Manuscript Library is a private collection of more than a million manuscripts and documents in the United States, the largest such collection in the world.It was founded in the early 1980s by California real estate magnates David and Marsha Karpeles, with the goal of stimulating interest in learning, especially in children, and to make the collection more accessible, is distributed between several Karpeles museums across the US, each located in a historic building, plus "mini-museums" in schools and office buildings. Items are rotated between museums quarterly, and each of the museums presents a daily general exhibit and one or more special scheduled exhibits throughout the year. In addition, Karpeles is aggressively expanding the content of its website. All of the Karpeles Manuscript Library services are free. The museums are located in small and midsize cities, although the Karpeleses put on an exhibit on Central Park West in New York City in 1991. As of September 2017[update], there were eleven museums.

In Buffalo, the Karpeles Museum consists of two separate buildings: Porter Hall at 453 Porter Avenue at Jersey Street and Plymouth Avenue; and North Hall at 220 North Street at Elmwood Avenue. Porter Hall was originally the Plymouth Methodist Church, while the North Hall was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1911.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Charleston is housed in the former St. James Chapel, a Methodist church built in 1856. The building is in the Greek Revival style following the Corinthian order and was inspired by the Temple of Jupiter in Rome. During the Civil War, Confederates used the building as a hospital and stored medical supplies there. Hurricane Hugo tore off the roof of the building and destroyed its interior on September 21, 1989. Following renovation, the building reopened on November 11, 1990.

The Duluth Museum at 902 East 1st Street was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1912; the original organ has been retained in the rotunda.

The Karpeles Museum in Fort Wayne occupies two buildings. Fairfield Hall is the former Church of Christ Scientist building at 2410 Fairfield Avenue and houses a rotating collection of historical documents, old and ancient ship models, and stone hieroglyphic inscriptions from the time of Moses. Piqua Hall is housed in a domed church at 3039 Piqua Avenue built in 1917 as the First Church of God. It houses a rotating collection of historical maps.

The Fort Wayne location provides an educational outreach program in the form of mini-museum displays that are set up in local schools and maintained by museum staff.

The Jacksonville Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum is located in the former First Church of Christ, Scientist building, a 1921 neoclassical structure in the Springfield neighborhood. There is also an antique book library, with volumes dating from the late 19th century, and a children's center.

The Karpeles Museum in Newburgh, New York, is located at 94 Broadway. It houses the Dona McPhillips Historical Painting Series, which includes many portraits of famous Americans grouped together as "Founding Fathers", "Civil War Union", "Civil War Confederates", "Indian Heroes", "More Indian Heroes", "Pathfinders", "Texas", "Blacks", "Pioneers" and "Women".

The museum building in Rock Island was originally the First Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1896 in the Broadway Historic District. Chris Kelly is the interim director.

The St. Louis branch of the Karpeles Manuscript Library opened on August 1, 2015. St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area to host a Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. The museum is located at 3524 Russell Boulevard, near Grand Boulevard and across the street from Compton Hill Reservoir Park. The structure was built as the Third Christian Science Church and opened in 1911 (it had been occupied in later decades by The New Paradise Missionary Baptist Church). The St. Louis Media History Foundation's Archives Exhibit Room is also housed in the building.

On March 26, 2019, a three alarm fire broke out at the museum causing considerable damage, mostly to the roof and the back of the building. About 80 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to fight the fire and haul out historic pieces such as old wooden ships and statues. St. Louis Media History Foundation's Executive Director Frank Absher said the museum building itself is likely beyond repair.

The Santa Barbara Karpeles Museum, the first to be opened, is at 21 West Anapamu Street.

The Karpeles Manuscript Library in Shreveport at 3201 Centenary Avenue was originally First Church of Christ, Scientist.

The Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Tacoma, Washington, which opened in 1991, is located at 407 South G Street in a former American Legion post built in 1931, across the street from the Wright Park Arboretum.

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