By JULIA OLSEN
julia@du2.byu.edu
Visitors to the new Crandall Historical Printing Museum step into a different world, separate from the modern technology of effortless and timely printing of today.
The museum opened Wednesday to the public in the red brick, colonial style house at 275 E.Center Street in Provo.
Louis Crandall, museum owner and curator, said he originally wanted to tell the story of the printing of the Book of Mormon. The idea had taken shape five years ago when the church had borrowed and displayed an old printing press Crandall owned.
'I decided to build a little museum and it occurred to me that I couldn't just tell the story of the printing of the Book of Mormon. I needed to tell the whole story of print,' Crandall said.
Each room in the remodeled house is dedicated to different landmarks in print from the times of Johannes Gutenberg, Ben Franklin, to the Palmyra, N.Y. print shop where 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were printed in the miraculous time of seven months.
Featured in the museum's Gutenberg room is an exact replica of the press used by Gutenberg and one of the original pages from the first bible printed. Crandall traveled to Mainz, Germany where he measured the original press to ensure the most accurate representation.
Crandall, who has been in the advertising business since he was 14 years old, has an extensive knowledge of the history of print.
'Gutenberg's print method was the single greatest invention in the history of the world. It made it possible for the people to think for themselves,' Crandall said.
The development of printing has largely been a religious experience, with the first book ever produced being the bible.
'Without the invention of printing there was no way that the gospel could've been restored. Joseph Smith wouldn't have been able to organize and preach the gospel without the Book of Mormon,' Crandall said.
Each room contained replicas of print machines used throughout time. The method for print remained true to the principles that Gutenberg invented until the 1970s, 520 years later.
A few comments in the guest book reflected the public's pleasure with the new addition to Provo's community: 'a great gift to Provo' and 'reminds us of working in Navoo.'
The museum, open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, is free to the public.
Students or classes of 20 or more interested in touring or hearing a lecture, can make reservations with Crandall at (801)377-7777.