PUEBLO, CO – The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America will celebrate the official dedication of the Clark Family Library on Friday, July 17, with a dedication and recognition ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Museum, 310 Central Main Street, in Pueblo, Colorado.

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The ceremony will celebrate the opening of one of the Museum's signature educational resources, honoring the Clark family's commitment to expanding access to learning and scholarship for the Pueblo community.

Children 17 and under will receive free admission to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America, courtesy of benefactors Mark and Reiko Clark.  The Clark’s are sponsoring youth admission in honor of their two daughters, Midori Clark & Saori Clark, while the Museum recognizes their generous support in establishing the Clark Family Library.

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The Museum houses a complete reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts and drawings. The library will serve students, educators, researchers, and visitors of all ages, furthering the Museum's mission to inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning through the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci.

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“Education, libraries, reading and providing learning opportunities for children have all been a significant part of our family’s lives,” said Mark. “All of those came together seamlessly with this opportunity to support Joe Arrigo’s dream to invest in helping Pueblo’s kids and scholars alike through the library at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America.”

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Reiko Clark said the family is grateful for the opportunity to give back to Pueblo, the community they have proudly called home for the past 16 years. She noted that a lifelong appreciation for education and libraries helped shape the lives and careers of both of their daughters.

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In 2023, Midori was named Director of the Fort Worth Public Library, after previously serving as Director of Library and Cultural Services for the City of Aurora (CO), and as Director of Community Relations, Development and Strategic Initiatives for the Pueblo City County Library District. Their daughter Saori serves as an Academic and Career Advisor in the School of Business at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

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Through a partnership with Giunti Editore of Florence, Italy, and Giunti Publishing, the Museum’s library includes every known manuscript (codex) in officially authorized facsimile editions. Leonardo da Vinci's surviving manuscripts have been meticulously photographed and reproduced in high-resolution facsimiles, reuniting his writings and drawings in a way that allows visitors, students and scholars to study his work as never before.

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Over the centuries, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks were separated, sold, inherited, dispersed, and collected by private owners, libraries, and museums around the world.  Today, da Vinci's surviving works are scattered among some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including collections in Italy, France, England, Spain, and the United States. Other pages remain in private collections, making it nearly impossible for scholars—or the public—to experience the full scope of da Vinci's genius in one place.

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The Museum's comprehensive facsimile collection helps overcome that challenge by bringing together faithful reproductions of Leonardo's surviving manuscripts in a single location for study and public exploration. International Leonardo scholar Dr. Sara Taglialagamba, Professor of the History of Science in the Renaissance at the University of Urbino, Italy, underscores the importance of these reproductions:

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"Contemporary facsimiles should be regarded as powerful instruments of knowledge, helping to preserve original works, expand opportunities for research, and foster broader public engagement with cultural heritage. In the case of Leonardo da Vinci, facsimile reproductions represent one of the most effective means of sustaining a dialogue between past and present, conservation and innovation, specialized research and public dissemination."

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In the Clark Family Library, select pages and reproductions from da Vinci's notebooks are on display.  The complete collection of codices is available for scholarly study by appointment. Researchers, educators, students, artists, engineers, historians, and dedicated enthusiasts may request access to explore the extensive collection.

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Advanced reservations are highly recommended to secure your free tickets for youth on July 17, Please visit davincisteam.org to make reservations.

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