At the Grand Rapids Public Museum they have an old timey print shop with a letterpress that was built in 1880. 

(sorry for the blurry iPhone pics)

printing plates

They print these bookmarks with a brief history of printing.

It is amazing what people had to do back then to print, many things I take for granted with my nice Macbook.  

If you are in Grand Rapids I recommend that you visit the print shop in the museum M-F 10am-3pm.

-Justin Weeks-