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Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind

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Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
Map
Established1994 (1994)
LocationLouisville, Kentucky
Coordinates38°15′27.38″N 85°42′49.55″W / 38.2576056°N 85.7137639°W / 38.2576056; -85.7137639
Websitewww.aph.org

The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind opened in 1994 and is located in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] The museum tells the story of the international history of the education of people who are blind, and how the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) has contributed to that history.[1] Exhibits focus on tactile systems, writing devices, braille production, orientation and mobility, educational aids and early schools for the blind. It is located on the second floor of the company's original 1883 factory building.

Layout and Exhibits[edit]

Visitors enter the museum through the 1883 Gallery which contains the exhibit "History in the Making: APH from Past to Present." The exhibit focuses both on the specific history of APH and the various products it has produced including raised-print books, audiobooks, and stereotype machines.[1] This exhibit was praised for its use of photographs and artifacts but criticized for the minimal attention given to those who worked in the APH factory which the museum now inhabits.[1]

The main Callahan Gallery focuses on development of reading systems and schools for blind people over time, across the United States as well as specifically in Kentucky.[1] "The Way We Worked" focuses on production machines used in the APH Gallery. There is also room for travelling exhibits.[1]

Visitor Experience[edit]

The museum is designed to be accessible for people who are blind or low vision, with labels in Braille, audio, and large print formats. [1] It also features learning experiences such as using braillewriters and mobility feature walking canes.[1]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Sandy-Bailey, Julia (2014). "Review of Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind". The Journal of American History. 101 (1): 208–213. ISSN 0021-8723.