What are the opening hours?

Monday 11am - 7pm Tuesday 11am - 7pm Wednesday 11am - 7pm Thursday 11am - 7pm Friday 11am - 7pm Saturday 11am - 7pm Sunday 11am - 6pm

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums

Name: Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums
Address: 105 Street George St, Saint Augustine, FL, 32084, US
Telephone: +14073767705
Price range: Not applicable

Home
United States
Saint Augustine, FL
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Museums nationwide, founded in 1983 by David & Marsha Karpeles to inspire curiosity & learning.

The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums have the primary mission to preserve the writings of great authors, scientists, composers, philosophers, statesmen, sovereigns and leaders, from all periods in world history. All admissions, as well as outreach program services, are provided free of charge to the public. The eleven Museums around the country strive to promote literacy and education. Exhibits are created around a particular theme and rotated every four months.

10/15/2026

A glimpse into the wit of Lewis Carroll! ✍️ In this 1890 letter, the author of Alice in Wonderland discusses the rules and etiquette surrounding visits with young women, offering a humorous look at Victorian social customs and the importance of proper chaperones. 📜

10/12/2026

A glimpse into the early era of peaceful nuclear cooperation ☢️

Dated July 15, 1955, this two-page White House letter documents President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s approval of a proposed cooperation agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand on the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

The agreement addressed cooperation in the design, construction, and operation of research reactors, along with health and safety measures. It also outlines the legal process required under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, including review by Congress before the agreement could be carried out.

Signed from the White House and addressed to Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis L. Strauss, the letter offers a fascinating look at how international nuclear cooperation was organized during the early Cold War.

10/10/2026

When science challenges a prevailing theory 🧪

This remarkable handwritten manuscript by Joseph Lister, pioneer of antiseptic surgery, focuses on one of the most important questions in early microbiology: could tuberculosis be transmitted between different species?

Following Robert Koch’s 1901 claim that human and bovine tuberculosis were separate diseases, Lister organized experiments in 1902 involving pigs and other animals to investigate whether bovine tuberculosis could cross species and change in virulence.

10/08/2026

A small invention that changed navigation forever ⌚

This remarkable manuscript is the original draft of a patent for a modern watch, authorized by King Charles II and granted to English scientist Robert Hooke.

In the 1660s, Hooke introduced the spiral spring to improve the accuracy of watch balance wheels. His innovation helped make precise timekeeping possible at sea, an essential step toward determining longitude and improving maritime navigation.

The invention also paved the way for more advanced marine chronometers and even helped introduce minute hands to watches ⏱️

10/06/2026

A cup of tea helped set the stage for revolution 🍵

Dated November 30, 1773, this remarkable manuscript describes the arrival of the “accursed tea” in Plymouth and the growing resistance to British taxation. It records the determination of colonists gathered in Boston to send the tea back to Britain without paying the tax.

Just weeks later, the Boston Tea Party would make that resistance famous. 🇺🇸

10/04/2026

History can feel a little more personal when your own family is part of the story. 📜

Ken MacCullum stands before the Rhode Island Charter, a document with a special connection to his family. Three of his relatives, Clarke, Dyer, and Hutchinson, were involved in the founding of the state, and Clarke was one of the signers of the Charter.

What an incredible experience to stand before a historic document signed by your own ancestor!

10/02/2026

🎼 A melody comes to life.

This remarkable manuscript is believed to be one of the earliest versions of the Entracte melody from Jacques Offenbach’s beloved 1866 operetta 'La Vie Parisienne'.

Lively, elegant, and unmistakably Parisian, the melody captures the playful spirit of 19th-century Paris and became one of Offenbach’s most memorable musical themes. This rare manuscript offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind a melody that would continue to enchant audiences for generations. 🎶🇫🇷

09/30/2026

A special discovery at Karpeles! 🔎📜

New York visitor Michael Marse found a document believed to bear the signature of his ancestor, William Lewis, whose name appears above “Finch.”

The Lewis family traces its roots to New York’s Hudson River Valley, a region with deep connections to the American Revolution. The family also operated a vast silver mine in the area, adding another fascinating chapter to their history.

For Michael, this document offers a remarkable connection to his family’s past. Sometimes, history is more personal than we expect!

09/28/2026

Fun Fact! Do you know President Harry S. Truman's middle name?

Well... This 1947 letter from Matthew J. Connolly, Secretary to President Harry S. Truman, explains that the “S” was only an initial, rather than a middle name!

09/26/2026

A certificate marking the rise of American innovation 🚂

This rare 1834 stock certificate bears the signature of Robert L. Stevens, a member of the pioneering Stevens family whose work helped transform American transportation and engineering.

From steam navigation to railroad technology and naval engineering, the Stevens family played an important role in America’s industrial development. Robert L. Stevens helped advance railroad construction through innovations such as the T-rail, while his brother Edwin Augustus Stevens later founded the Stevens Institute of Technology.

More than a financial document, this certificate represents a family whose innovations helped shape the future of American transportation and engineering. ⚙️📜
　

Address

105 Street George St
Saint Augustine, FL
32084

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 7pm
Tuesday	11am - 7pm
Wednesday	11am - 7pm
Thursday	11am - 7pm
Friday	11am - 7pm
Saturday	11am - 7pm
Sunday	11am - 6pm

Telephone

+14073767705

Website

http://www.karpeles.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums:

Want your museum to be the top-listed museum in Saint Augustine?