The downtown Santa Barbara museum that houses the first moon guidance computer and a guide to preparing a mummy is set to be sold and closed. 

The more than 40-year-old Karpeles Manuscript Library building is listed for $3.3 million. It has been for sale for about a month, according to Norman Cohan, museum director.

The Santa Barbara flagship museum opened at 21 W Anapamu St. in 1984. The Santa Barbara location was one of 14 Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum locations across the country. 

Now, according to the website, only six locations are still open. 

Cohan said museum leadership wants to consolidate its vast collection into one museum in St. Augustine, Florida. Museum CEO Mark Karpeles and co-founder Marsha Karpeles also currently live in Florida. 

“It would be a great loss for Santa Barbara because this museum is unique among all museums,” Cohan said. 

The museum collection is made up of “more than a million historical documents” and is considered to be the largest privately-owned manuscript collection in the world. 

All of the Santa Barbara exhibitions, including a Titanic miniature model, the Egyptian god of the dead Anubis and others, will probably get shipped to Florida, he added.  

“People are discussing alternatives, some way that the museum could remain here, like somebody would buy the building and then they’d lease (the collection) out,” he said. 

There is talk between museum staff member Alexandra Wardwell and museum regular Ollie Dee to create a petition to save the Santa Barbara museum. 

An alternative Dee and Wardwell envision includes an arts collective or community group getting together to buy the multimillion dollar building. 

“A lot of people who go in there are like ‘Oh I have lived here my whole life and didn’t know it was here,’ and it was the same for me,” Dee said. 

He hopes to have a petition ready by early March.

A sign near the entrance of the museum also confirms the museum is moving to Florida.

“After almost 4 decades in our favorite city, Santa Barbara, we regret to announce that we will be moving to St. Augustine Florida, the country’s oldest city,” it reads. 

“Moving date to be announced later.”

Cohan said he isn’t sure when the exact closing day as it is dependent on a buyer.

“This could take a year or so, who knows,” he said. 

Museum staff member Diane Huntoon said she was shocked and saddened to hear the museum, a space she calls magical, is planning to close.

“It’s been a stable rock in the community,” she said. “I have been in touch with so much history.”

Admission to the museum is free, and visitors are greeted by a velociraptor wearing a flower lei, a hint at the rest of the unique historical collection the museum houses.  

The collection rotates between museums three times a year, according to the museum website. 

Cohan said since word spread that the museum will close, he’s seen an increase of visitors. 

“Many people think it may be the last time they come here,” he said. 

People can also explore the museum’s collection online including historical documents like the Elvis Presley Firearm Permit Application or Captain Rostrons Titanic Rescue Account: A Firsthand Report.