Egbert B. Grandin was only 22 years old when he agreed to print the 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon.
The printing of the book was financed by Martin Harris, who mortgaged his farm to secure the $3,000 printing contract.
The original printing press used for the Book of Mormon was a Smith Ramage press, which required two pulls of the handle to print a single sheet of paper.
Paper for the project was transported from Rochester, New York, via the Erie Canal, which had opened only a few years prior.
The third floor of the building was specifically chosen for the press due to the need for a stable foundation to support the heavy equipment.
The bookstore and print shop occupied the street level, while the printing operations were situated on the upper floors to manage the noise and weight.
The Grandin Printshop is the site where the first edition of the Book of Mormon was typeset, printed, and bound in 1829 and 1830. Located in the original building in Palmyra, New York, the site features a restored 1820s-style print shop on the third floor. Visitors can see a replica of the original Smith Ramage printing press used to produce the first 5,000 copies of the book. The building served as E.B. Grandin’s commercial print shop and bookstore, occupying space on Palmyra’s main thoroughfare. Following extensive restoration, the site now serves as an educational museum dedicated to the history of the printing process and the publication of the book. The facility includes interactive exhibits detailing the labor-intensive nature of 19th-century book production. Historic documents and artifacts associated with the printing contract are displayed on-site.
The third-floor window overlooking Main Street, which provides a view of the town as it would have appeared in the 1830s.
Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah for a comprehensive historical experience.
Ask the staff about the manual demonstration of the printing press to see how the 19th-century process actually functioned.
Read the historical markers on the exterior of the building before heading inside for context on Palmyra’s commercial history.
Do not mistake this for the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center; they are distinct locations several miles apart.
The site is typically closed on major holidays; check for seasonal shifts in operations during the winter months.
Respectful attire and quiet demeanor are expected as it is considered a historic site with religious significance.
