History Center looks at major influence of the printing press

The Des Plaines History Center will host the Hands-On History program "Printing the Past." All children ages 5-12 and their families are invited to attend the program at 1:30 p.m. on either Wednesday, Dec. 1, or Sunday, Dec. 5.

Both sessions will explore the history of the printing press and the way it revolutionized books, newspapers, and more. Participants will learn how to set type by hand, test their typing skills with a real working typewriter, and try some printmaking art.

This is an in-person program and activities will be held indoors. Masks are required for all History Center visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

"It's become so commonplace for us today to simply buy a book or print something out that it's easy to overlook just how influential the invention of the movable type printing press really was," said Emma Marston, Des Plaines History Center interpretive curator.

"By giving people the ability to easily share knowledge and ideas, the printing press helped pull Europe out of the Middle Ages and paved the way for the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and so many more advances in human history."

This program is free due to the generosity of the Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines. Donations are appreciated.

The Des Plaines History Center is at 781 Pearson St.

Hands-On History is a monthly children's program series meant to invite public participation and interaction with a broad range of historical topics, per the History Center's mission.

The next children's program will be "Secrets and Spies" at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, or Sunday, Jan. 16.

For information, visit www.desplaineshistory.org/about.