The museum's permanent exhibition traces the fascinating history of papermaking from its earliest antecedents through the advanced techology of today-- from ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets and Egyptian papyrus scrolls to the watermarked papers of Italy to the high-tech machinery of the modern paper industry.

"From Hand to Machine: The Evolution of Papermaking", is featured in the George W. Mead Paper Education Center. The exhibit details the evolution of science and technology in papermaking, showcasing artifacts from the 1300s to paper made in space aboard the space shuttle Columbia.

Museum founder Dard Hunter traveled around the world investigating and documenting hand papermaking techniques and traditions. The results of his travels were distilled into books which introduced audiences to the world of paper. This gallery provides a biography of the man whose collection is the foundation of the museum.

Artifact of the Month

A series featuring an artifact from the Paper Museum's extensive collection. Each month highlights a different artifact to provide the opportunity to learn more about our collection and the variety of items collected.

View the Artifact of the Month listing