Karpeles Manuscript Library — Attraction in Jacksonville

Gorgeous 1930s architecture immediately engages the senses when you arrive at this fascinating museum housing an impressive rotating collection (there are Karpeles museums in a handful of other cities as well) of millions of historic and important documents, manuscripts, photographs, bills of sale, design diagrams, (every type of document you can imagine!) and many historical oddities as well as an ever changing gallery of talented local artists and a permanent collection featuring artworks, sculpture, models of important ships, and Egyptian and African artifacts. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to converse and answer all your questions but also courteous enough to allow you quiet solitude as you tour the museum, something severely lacking at many larger museums and galleries. Some of the recent exhibitions I've enjoyed featured designs and documents from the Wright Bros (and sister!), Images of Florida's First Coast, and Robyn Andrew's Change and Permanence. Additionally the Halloween exhibits are always to die for! If you haven't visited this downtown/Historic Springfield jewel yet, you are doing yourself...

The Jacksonville Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum’s primary mission is the preservation and educational presentation of the writings of great authors, scientists, composers, philosophers, statesmen, sovereigns, and leaders, from all periods in world history.

The Museum strives to promote education and literacy within Jacksonville, with an emphasis on the under-served neighborhoods and constituents. The Jacksonville Karpeles is one of nine Karpeles Museums around the country and the museum founders are committed to providing each of these communities free access to original manuscript exhibits. Collections and documents rotate. Sometimes local artists display their art...

This was a fascinating place to spend some time and look at some amazing pieces of history. There was something for everyone here; when we went there was a collection of artifacts and papers relating to the Cuban Revolution, Castro, and Che Guevara that was really neat to look at along with a collection of local art focused on literary horror. There were also several amazing pieces about Jacksonville/Florida history and ancient Egypt! The building itself is a piece of art and a lot of it is unchanged. Visit this unique and family-friendly...