Grandin Printshop: Book of Mormon Publication Site

In early June 1829, Egbert B. Grandin, the young owner of a thriving print business in Palmyra, agreed to print 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon for $3,000. Copies of the Book of Mormon were first available for sale at Grandin’s bookstore on March 26, 1830. Since then, over 176 million copies of the Book of Mormon have been printed in over 100 languages.

Thayer and Grandin Row—built by Levi Grandin, Egbert’s older brother, in partnership with Joel and Levi Thayer—was one of the first major commercial structures in Palmyra. The three-story building employed all the latest in building technology and quality craftsmanship. Egbert B. Grandin moved his printing and bookselling business into the row by November 1828, eventually occupying all three floors of the westernmost bay. On the first floor, Grandin operated a bookstore, while the second housed the bindery, and the printshop was on the top floor.

In 1824, eighteen-year-old Grandin apprenticed under Pomeroy Tucker and John H. Gilbert, editors of the Wayne Sentinel, the local newspaper. In 1827, Grandin purchased the Sentinel and moved the printshop to Thayer and Grandin Row. When Joseph Smith first approached Grandin to print the Book of Mormon, Grandin refused the job. Grandin did not want to be associated with Joseph Smith’s claims about the origins of the Book of Mormon (which Grandin did not believe). Soon after, Joseph Smith approached Grandin again to negotiate a price for the printing and binding of the book. While Grandin was still concerned about being associated with the work, he agreed after Martin Harris mortgaged a substantial portion of his farm to secure payment for the work (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:26). Over a seven-month process, Oliver Cowdery and the other scribes passed along the manuscript to John H. Gilbert, who added punctuation while supervising the typesetting and printing.

Read more about the publishing of the Book of Mormon in Saints Volume 1, Chapter 8.

360° Walkthrough

What to Expect

Missionaries will take you on a free guided tour of the Grandin Printshop where you will move up the three levels of the building to see exhibits, original paintings, and printing demonstrations. It features restorations of the original bookstore, printer’s office, printing press, and bindery.