Everything inside St. Louis museum saved from fire, but fate of building less clear
But the fate of the heavily damaged historical building that housed the pieces is less clear. Damage was extensive, but officials say it could be saved.
The smell of charred wood still hung in the air Wednesday afternoon. Soot covered the brick above the windows on the third floor of the building and virtually every window on the rear of the structure. Many of the stained-glass windows remained intact, but at least two were damaged, shards of them glistening along the driveway leading to the museum. The roof had collapsed. Yellow caution tape surrounded the building. Condemnation notices on every door warned visitors to stay away.
It's unclear how much a renovation could cost.
Estimates from architects, insurance adjusters, cleanup crews and others that follow fires will all have to be factored into what's next for the museum.
David and
The former church was the 13th Karpeles branch and housed parts of Karpeles' collection of original manuscripts, one of the largest in the world.
"Between myself and the firefighters who would let me in, thankfully all of
There were about 24 documents and manuscripts, including a high school yearbook from
For now, Manderbach and board members of the foundation have taken the rare pieces into their own homes for safekeeping, he said.
Fire Chief
"We can't throw water on a building when we've got people in the building," Jenkerson said.
No one was injured. Flames were largely extinguished by
The building, a six-columned brick-and-stone church with arching stained-glass windows, sits just five houses off
Firefighters battle a massive fire at
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
Area residents
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Fire
A firefighter carries a ship replica to a firetruck on
Historic building and museum burns
Historic building and museum burns
Fire at
Fire at
Firefighters battle a blaze at
Fire at
Fire at
Firefighters battle a blaze at
SEE THE MUSEUM WHEN IT OPENED
Exterior of of
A small swatch of fabric from the flyer the Wright brothers made history at Kitty Hawk in 1903 is part of the Wright Brothers exhibit at the Karpeles Manuscript. Photographed on
Photos by
The first draft of the
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