Last Saturday and Sunday of the Month | 12pm | 211 Water Street | $100
The Bowne & Co. Stationers that you can visit today at the Seaport Museum, is an offshoot of the original Bowne & Co., Inc. that is one of New York’s oldest printing firms––having been established in 1775. Today’s small 19th century-style stationers faithfully embodies the spirit of a turn-of-the-century print shop, and invites you to experience the rich printing history of the city.
Each month, you have the opportunity to join our printers in celebrating this legacy in hands-on workshops! Sign up today for an immersive 3-hour program, from 12–3pm, where you can work together with Bowne’s designers to produce your own custom set of stationery—from start to finish.
In this workshop, you get to set type from the Museum’s collection of historical fonts, mix ink, cut paper, and print a bespoke edition of 35 notecards using a 19th century printing press. Great for all skill levels, the workshop will engage you in every part of the printing process—we even teach you how to clean the press at the end!
Advanced registration is required. Anyone ages 12 and up is welcome, and all supplies are included in the cost of the workshop. All participants get to take home their set of custom-made stationery valued at $250. Access to this workshop includes walking up and down a few stairs.
If you don’t see tickets for a specific date, that workshop has reached capacity. These popular workshops fill quickly, so claim your tickets today!
Gift the Experience of Letterpress Printing this Holiday Season
To give this workshop as a gift for the holidays, we recommend listing your gift recipient’s name in the First and Last name fields but your email for the order confirmation. This way you can print out the confirmation email or forward it to your gift recipient to give as your gift, at a time of your choosing.
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the Seaport Museum’s historic ships and exhibition galleries is not included with this event. To explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about Pay What You Wish admission tickets, available Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm when you check in.
These tickets grant access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16 and all current exhibitions on view in the introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street. Timed tours of the 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16 are available separately.
Advance Pay What You Wish tickets for the forthcoming Maritime City exhibition, opening in March 2025 in A.A. Thomson & Co. located at 213 Water Street are now available. Be among the first to explore this exciting new exhibition!
Bowne & Co.
Bowne & Co. is New York’s oldest operating business under the same name. Using seven historic presses from the Museum’s working collection, our resident printers continue the age-old tradition of job (or small batch) printing, creating individual designs using custom plates or historic fonts.