the karpeles manuscript museum

While touring Broadway Historic District, you have to stop here. Not only do they have some amazing historical documents and artifacts, they also hold many neighborhood events on the premises. The building was abandoned for many years and is slowly being restored to its former glory in addition to providing a great neighborhood museum and gathering place. The best part is that the whole thing is free to the public!

I've never really been to a museum like this. The place is made up of displayed manuscripts that rotate every few months. The manuscripts are selective by necessity, and not comprehensive. You get a glimpse into what the documents look like and day for the subject being displayed. I spent less than 1/2 hour there, and I'm relatively certain that the documents I looked at - and more - are available online.

We visited this small museum on a Saturday and were the only ones there. Bryan was a wonderful host, full of energy and information. The temporary exhibit at the time featured manuscripts relating to John Adams; the previous exhibit was related to Sigmund Freud. Not all of the documents are originals, but many of them are; the others are beautiful reproductions. Each document had an easy to read transcription posted above it. The entire museum is relatively small, but very unique. The building itself is gorgeous inside and out. I will gladly visit again if we are in the area; the main exhibit changes every few months.

There are only a few items on exhibit but worth an hour of your time. Looking for something to do on a weekend, this is worth a short visit.

The museum is housed in the former Christian Science Church which was built in 1914 and is a National Historic Landmark. That in itself makes it interesting. The current display is Sigmund Freud's original writings concerning his views on psychoanalysis, some in German and some in English. The displays explain them since they are not easy to read. The current set rotates out the end of August. There are several other documents unrelated to Freud such as a communication by the captain of the Carpathian, rescue ship for Titanic survivors, describing those historic events. Donations are the primary means of funding.

The museum is free, you can't go far wrong at that price. Original documents are displayed in a couple dozen glass cases. The current exhibit is Sigmund Freud. Most documents are in German, although I could not make out the English letters, either. I enjoyed seeing a letter signed "Onkel Sigm." (Uncle Sigmund). Another letter signed in both original German and in English translation bemoaned the state of psychoanalysis in the United States. Not a Freud fan, I should have come for the Charles Darwin or Mark Twain exhibits. I await news of the next show.My favorite item is on permanent display, a report by the captain of the Carpathian on the rescue of the Titanic. I did not see that the museum was in any way handicap accessible. While the building's design is a classic, the stained glass windows have broken panes, grass is taking over the parking lot, it could use some serious tuck-pointing, and I am glad I am not responsible for the roof. Still, it is a generous undertaking by the Karpeles family and I am glad for whatever they have done to put the building to good use.

The museum is free and takes about a half hour to go through. The exhibit while we were there was manuscripts from Charles Darwin. They change manuscript exhibits about every 3-4 months. The building itself is very historical and interesting. They're working on the 2nd floor auditorium so it sounds like by the end of summer there will be even more reasons to visit. John, the person working there today, was very friendly and informative. Would definitely stop back.