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HIW Museum

“I thank God there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these (for a) hundred years; For learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world, and printing has divulged them, and libels against the best government. God keep us from both.”

Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, 1671

Words have always been the backbone of mankind’s development. At first, knowledge was closely held by those who could transcribe thoughts and ideas onto papyrus. The thirst for knowledge and understanding has been insatiable ever since the Chinese, then Gutenberg fashioned individual letters out of wood and metal. With these letters, words could be formed and reproduced as fast as a human could operate a crude printing press.

The story of knowledge and of technology is profound and was only exploited by the printing press. The Howard Iron Works celebrates the printed word. But, we go beyond that into the amazing world of printing machinery development itself. HIW is not only a knowledge center but also a living restoration museum where machines from all over the world come to be brought back to original condition for everyone to enjoy.

Each period of Man’s history is marked with ever increasing sophistication of machinery and processes. Just think: where would any of us be without Korans, Bibles, and other life changing scriptures - for that matter, the imparting of knowledge through schoolbooks and encyclopedias. Doctoral theses could be printed in the millions, helped cure the sick and led to discoveries and inventions. All because someone was able to access a book.

The HIW museum represents more than the printing industry. It showcases man's greatest accomplishments. Our museum has machinery from many periods dating from the 1830’s to the 1950’s. This was the era of profound change for society. As the ever-increasing demand for more knowledge spread, the printing press responded and a cornucopia of designs - some profound, others a flop - made their way to the farthest corners of the earth.