Cool Places
Educational
Fun
Surprising
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
700 22nd St, Rock Island, IL 61201
Rotating exhibits: original documents from the collection of Dr. Karpeles
This museum in Rock Island is one of the 10 left that were originally founded in California in 1983 by David and Marsha Karpeles.Together, these museums make up one of the largest private collections of manuscripts in the world. Exhibits are regularly rotated between the various locations. Entry to all museums is free because the Karpeles family believed that everyone should have the opportunity to absorb history and learn more about our past.
The Rock Island museum building was originally constructed in 1914 by First Church of Christ, Scientist and rests in the Broadway Historic District. The front features six towering columns and the walls are home to many stained glass windows. On the second story of the building, a dome is prominently featured, which is actually sectioned into two parts: an inner dome and an outer dome. Fish scale pieces of glass surround the inner dome. The second story area hosts events, from concerts to weddings.
What initially started as a hobby for the Karpeles family has evolved into something much more: a sense of community. Beyond holding rotating exhibits of historical documents, the Karpeles Museum in Rock Island also hosts many different events and offers various services. Once a month, an event called “Hands-On Saturday” is hosted at the museum to bring history to life for all participants. Every person is given a free craft that coordinates with either the exhibits in place or the time of year that the event is hosted.
The Karpeles also hosts a “Mini Museum” program where organizations can borrow artifacts to be displayed at their locations for free. These exhibits can also be rotated out every two to three months on a museum schedule or as often as an organization would like. The first floor of the museum also hosts tours from local schools to give children the opportunity to see history in front of their noses.
The Karpeles family and their team work to preserve documents and keep history alive for years to come.
For more information:
Have a question? Call either location today:
(309) 788-0806 or kmuseumrki@aol.com