Check out our videos! Dive deep into book history and how they’re made.
Brought to you in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
About
We celebrate and share the history, tools and process of bookbinding. See the tools of 1600s hand binding and the earliest machines that automated bookbinding in the 1800s. The American Bookbinders Museum is the only museum of its kind in North America.
Come, see the story of the book! Self-guided and audio tours available weekly, 10-4, Tuesday - Saturday, with hands-on activities and rotating special exhibits.
You'll never look at a book the same again!
EXHIBITSThe Magic of Marbling | Unique by Design opens Sept. 21. First practiced in Asia, it spread through the Middle East, to Europe, and beyond. Used in the book arts to decorate book covers, end papers and for edge treatments, marbling has many traditional patterns and techniques. The Exhibit is free; open Tues-Sat from 10am - 4pm.
The Magic of Marbling | Unique by Design
RentalsThe American Bookbinders Museum is an ideal place for your next event. Conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco’s SoMa/Yerba Buena District. We are just steps away from Moscone Center, the Central Subway and BART/Muni. It's a memorable place to throw a party! Find out what we have to offer today.
Host Your Event With Us
DonateEvery day is a good day to make a donation to the American Bookbinders Museum! Your financial gift is essential for ABM to continue its celebration of the history of bookbinding and communicating the timeless importance of one of humanity's most valuable resources: the book. Make a donation today!
Donate Today
What our visitors say about their experience
-
This is a small museum that explains clearly how a book is actually constructed. I liked the chance to sew a couple of signatures into place. There’s a great deal I don’t know about what’s between the pages I read and the spine! The history included in the exhibit is itself worth a visit.
Curtis, Google 01/2023 -
This is a great self guided tour of the history of bookbinding. From the first paper to modern techniques, there are examples of the implements and machines used throughout the years. Took about two hours. Staff was helpful with answering questions on the function of the machines.
Marq, Google 10/2023 -
A beautifully curated museum that encourages you to touch exhibits and ask questions. Information is shared in a way that is easily digestible and not overwhelming. The staff was absolutely lovely.
Kristyn, Google 10/2023 -
Very fun and well documented museum. The History of book making is facinating, and as a bookbinder novice, it was great to see all the old machines and techniques explained.
Agathe, Google 01/10/2024 -
Lots of information provided. Interactive. Wifi provided. The only improvement I could think of is to provide video demonstrations on the process of book binding and to show how the machines work (there was one where you could scan QR codes).
Li, Google 12/2023 -
We loved this thoughtfully curated museum to an art with an amazing history. Lots of great artifacts and a couple of fun interactive exhibits. Do bring your headphones as there is a good, free audio tour. I’m so glad there is a museum preserving the history of this important trade.
Dan, Google 01/2023 -
A small museum but packed with cool information. I can spend hours reading about the history of bookbinders and paper making/printing processes here. The staff was so nice and helpful. I’m glad I stopped by this amazing place during my short trip to SF.
Bui, Google 12/2023 -
Wow, absolutely spectacular museum!! Hands down my favorite museum in San Francisco, one of the best stops I made during this whole vacation. I really loved just how much material they had here, it was so full and in-depth, I couldn’t believe how educational and interesting it was. And all the big machinery and equipment, complete with historical illustrations on the walls behind. Plus the interactive parts, the folding, the weaving. Wow, what a wonderful place!
Ethan, Google 12/2023 -
I had little time before catching my plane home on a Thursday morning when I discovered by accident that this little museum was just around the corner from my hotel. If I had gone to a larger place like the MOMA I would have been frustrated not to have been able to see it all … So compact this is but very well done, researched and presented. Of course, I am an easy customer: I have always loved books – well more so the contents but it was absolutely fascinating to learn how it was all put together in centuries past !!
Marie, Trip Advisor 12/03/2023 -
Nice gift shop selection
Square, Dec. 2, 2022 -
This museum is a hidden gem. I’ve been a bookbinder for years but I have never seen anyone specifically address the American experience and how things changed as craftsman moved here from Europe and industrialization took hold. I learned a lot. If it has not been for the audio your the experience would not have been the same.
Leah, Google 7/19/21 -
Highly recommend! Fascinating!
The docent tour is fabulously interesting for anyone interested in craftsmanship, social history, books, engineering, the industrial revolution, and economics. Due to my work experiences, I probably know more than average about this process, but I still learned a LOT! Loved it! Great value.
Joan, Trip Advisor 12/12/19 -
The guided tour was fascinating and very informative. The guide was so knowledgebable and patient and there are vintage tools and equipment to demonstrate the history of bookbinding. I will never look at a book the same
tripadvisor August 2019
after visiting and touring this museum. I truly appreciated visiting this charming
museum and it’s staff. Thank you. -
Great place with a ton of educational value. All of the classic machinery is a cool thing to see!
Google April 2019 -
Didn’t know what to expect. I was thinking how much can you really say about making books. But tour is very thorough and I thought it was interesting. Bookbinding started as a very skilled craft and the process to make them was intricate. Then the industrial revolution came and changed it. If you want to take a break from going to the movies, recommend doing a docent led tour
Yelp 4/7/2019 -
Great docent lead tour giving a fabulous historical journey through the lens of book binding.
Yelp 2/4/17 -
The tour is worth the time. It is great for anyone into craftsmanship and history. The staff is friendly and informative. Started with this gem during a morning of touring museums.
Yelp 11/15/16 -
This place is GREAT! Book lovers unite!
The staff is wonderful, the tour is historical and entertaining, and it is WELL worth the time to be exposed to such an important aspect of human history!
Yelp 7/14/17 -
This was a great tour for my teen who loves old books. We learned the history of bookbinding and its evolution to mass publishing with a fun and very knowledgeable docent. Seeing so many period machines and getting a chance to try out a printing press made this better than just a museum visit.
Yelp 4/20/18 -
If you love books, this is a must. Learn the history of the art/process of making a book. Very informed staff and docents.
Yelp 2/2/19 -
Bellissimo, piccolo ma completo, Bravi!
Roberto Z 3/3/19 -
A wonderful museum. The temporary exhibition was an added treat. Bravo!
Samuel F 2/1/19 -
I love that the equipment was used in demonstrations! I love the knowledge and passion the docents have for this museum and the work! I’m so glad I stumbled across this!
Visitor 6/6/16 -
Really fantastic small museum, with helpful and informative staff and a brilliant gift shop. Seeing the various printing and bookbinding techniques associated with the tools and machines they involved was fantastic.
TripAdvisor 8/24/17 -
Great collection, great docents. The museum really showcases the beginnings of the collection of knowledge in our society.
Google 10/25/18 -
Мuseo chico, tiene la sala de exposición linda, talleres y las máquinas antiguas de encuadernación, museografía magnífica, imparten conferencias también.
Google 3/14/19 -
This is a fantastically interesting jewel. It is truly astounding to walk in a place like this and find one of the most important parts of our culture which is the preservation of knowledge. It is truly eye opening to witness the detail of work in culture.
Google 3/8/18