Most of us never think about what holds a book together. The American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood is devoted to exactly that: the history, tools and process of binding books.
What you'll see
The museum walks visitors through hand binding as it was done in the 1600s, then shows the first machines that automated the work. Wikipedia notes the focus on the 1800s shift from hand binding to industrial book manufacturing, using 19th-century equipment, much of it still functioning. The New York Times once described it as "a small, obsessive collection of machinery and ephemera."
The museum says it is the only museum of its kind in North America. Self-guided and audio tours are available, along with hands-on activities and rotating exhibits. Mandarin tours, school and group tours, and lectures and workshops are also offered.
Now showing
The Hand Bookbinders of California's 54th Annual Members Exhibition is on view through Dec. 26. The free show features one-of-a-kind handmade books, from traditional bindings to contemporary pieces that play with materials, printing and decoration.
A short history
Bay Area bookbinder Tim James started the nonprofit, which opened as a private museum in 2009. In 2015 it moved to a larger space in SoMa and opened to the public. James stepped away in 2017, and the museum has continued without him, according to Wikipedia.
Plan your visit
- Where: 355 Clementina St., San Francisco
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; walk-ins welcome
- Getting there: steps from Moscone Center, the Central Subway and BART/Muni
One visitor review quoted on the museum's site says a self-guided visit took about two hours, so budget time if you want to try the hands-on stations.