First Church of Christ, Scientist / Karpeles Manuscript Museum - Table of Contents
Exterior - First Church of Christ,
Scientist / Karpeles
Manuscript Museum
220 North Street, Buffalo, NY
On this page, below:
2004 photos - exterior
History
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Greek Revival style |
A six-columned Greek temple style portico |
Roman lattice |
Paired, terra cotta fluted Ionic columns |
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Terra cotta fluted Ionic column |
Roman lattice style windows |
One of a pair of bronze light standards |
Elmwood Avenue side view looking west |
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East elevation (Elmwood Avenue) |
Detail from previous photo |
Detail from previous photo |
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 220 North Street, was built in 1911. The congregation now owns two buildings in the area: a reading room at 495 Main Street and a church in Kenmore on Myron Avenue.
Two Baptist congregations have owned this building since the First Church of Christ, Scientist sold the building. The second congregation, the Christian Fellowship, purchased the building c.1984. Plans (as of March 2004) are for this congregation to vacate the building in June of 2004.
The nationwide Karpeles Manuscript Museum is presently located in six cities other than Buffalo. The Museum purchased its first Buffalo building , originally the Plymouth Methodist Church, located nearby at 453 Porter Avenue, in 1995.
David Karpeles was also interested in purchasing 220 North Street as a second location, but it was not for sale in 1995. He attempted to purchase it in 2001, but, again, it was not for sale. His third attempt, in September of 2003, however, was successful.
The 453 Porter site will remain the primary exhibit space for the circulating Karpeles collection of over one million manuscripts. The North Street building will be used as additional exhibit space, sometimes supplementing current events (e.g., Mars photos) or other area museum (e.g., The Albright-Knox or the Burchfield-Penney) exhibits. One planned exhibit for 2004 will be Dr. V. Roger Lalli's 42 original "Buffalo: My City" watercolors.
Another use of the North Street museum will be dedicated space on the second floor (currently referred to as the "Blue Room") for Buffalo State College students earning their bachelor's or master's degres in museum studies. The Porter Avenue site also has dedicated space for the program. Students will curate their own exhibits.
The North Street site will probably be available as rental space for weddings, etc.
Current plans are to remove about two thirds of the pews in the church. The remaining seating, for about 400, will be used for concerts, lectures, etc. The 1913 Moller organ is in fine condition and organ concerts are planned. (The Porter site also houses an organ, but about 600 working pipes are missing.)
Admission to both museums will continue to be free.
See history and photos of the Porter Street site. See the Buffalo Karpeles Manuscript Museum official home page for information about the museum.
2012 Photos
