Welcome to the
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
The world's largest private holding of original historical manuscripts.
Founded in 1983 by David and Marsha Karpeles with the purpose to inspire curiosity and encourage learning, the Karpeles Manuscript Library archives contain more than a million historical documents in the categories of literature, science, religion, political history, exploration, music and art.
To make the collection more accessible to the general public, all Karpeles museums are free to visit, and the collection rotates between its museums three times per year.
Featured
Exhibits
Apollo 11
Documents from the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon.
Visit Karpeles Santa Barbara
Plan Your Visit
SEE ALL LOCATIONSCollection Highlights
Karpeles Manuscript Library archives include gems such as:
The “Taxation Without Representation” complaint by Benjamin Franklin
Political History
The original manuscript of the sheet music for The Wedding March
Music
Einstein's famous E=MC2 formula
Science
The original manuscript of Roget's Thesaurus
Literature
The first printing of the Ten Commandments from The Gutenberg Bible (ca. 1455)
Religion
Amelia Earhart's Certificate of Landing for her solo flight across the Atlantic
Exploration
Donald Duck Drawing Guide by Disney
Art
The “Taxation Without Representation” complaint by Benjamin Franklin
Political History
The original manuscript of the sheet music for The Wedding March
Music
Einstein's famous E=MC2 formula
Science
The original manuscript of Roget's Thesaurus
Literature
The first printing of the Ten Commandments from The Gutenberg Bible (ca. 1455)
Religion
Amelia Earhart's Certificate of Landing for her solo flight across the Atlantic
Exploration
Donald Duck Drawing Guide by Disney
Art
