About
We celebrate and share the history, tools and process of bookbinding. Our tours begin with hand binding in the 16th century. You'll see beautiful machines invented in the 19th century automating bookbinding. Come hear the story of the book.
The American Bookbinders Museum is the only museum of its kind in North America.
Temporarily ClosedThe ABM is temporarily closed starting 3/14. Please check back with us to see when we will reopen.
CLOSED
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, SFMOMA and BART/Muni. Find out what we have to offer.
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MembershipYour support helps the ABM expand its programming, exhibits and community outreach. Help us reach more book lovers, students, and book artists. Get access to the museum, special events and more. Become an ABM Guild member today.
Join TodayWhat our visitors are saying about their experience
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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