Heritage Press Museum

Step back in time to a recreated printing office from the 1920's and see demonstrations of working letterpress printing. We have hands on demonstrations for all ages where you can print your own letterpress souvenirs to take with you. Learn about the history of printing and see our collection of printing items.

Our museum is free, but we appreciate donations or purchases of items printed at the museum.
The museum is located at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER 346 North Queen Street Lancaster, PA 17603.
Contact us for group tours, a great activity for home school and other education groups.

Hours of visiting

  • Thursday, Friday & Saturday

    12 – 4 pm

  • First & Third Fridays: 5 – 9 pm
  • Sunday

    12 - 3 pm

  • Contact us for group tours

  • Our history

  • KEEPING THE CRAFT ALIVE

    Through our regularly scheduled demonstrations we educate the public about the history of printing while providing a working letterpress job shop to fulfill the specialty printing needs for the community.

    Founded in 2004, the Heritage Center Print Shop Museum, 5 W. King Street, Lancaster, PA has, from the time of its inception, attracted local and international tourists to participate in a live printing history demonstration. The .918 Club has also provided the opportunity for Boy Scouts to complete their "printing" merit badge and has given the local educational institutions an opportunity to show their students a "live" history lesson, which engages the mind and the muscle on each visit.

    When the Heritage Center closed in 2009, the Print Shop Museum was offered free space as part of BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, 346 North Queen Street. With the establishment of this new location and new name, Heritage Press Museum, we are still able to offer the community a place to visit and experience a treasure in downtown Lancaster.

    Thanks to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, we have a rent free location for a hands-on print shop lab where donated equipment is used to provide classes in letterpress printing.

  • Explore

    • Treadle Press

    • Hell Box

    • Ink & brayers

    • Galleys

    • Type High

    • Quoins

    • Proof Press

    • Job Cases

    • Composition Sticks

    • Lockups

    • Common Press

    • Leads & Slugs

    • Paper Guillotine

    • Hand Presses

    • Furniture

    • Type & Spaces

    • Chases

    • Printer's Kiss

Preserving the tradition of letterpress printing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
We are passionate about educating our community on the history and technique of traditional letterpress printing by providing demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

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