Musical Treasures at the Smithsonian
From Louis Armstrong's trumpet to Grandmaster Flash's turntable and from a Central African harp to an Apache violin, these objects represent just a sampling of how music is collected, curated and studied at the Smithsonian. Explore these photographs, objects, and artifacts that help explain how music infuses our everyday life, brightening it with its sounds and beats.
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Steinway & Sons Grand Piano
- date made
- 1939
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Harp
- Date
- Early 20th century
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Van Halen Frankenstein Electric Guitar
- date made
- 2007
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Hammond B-3 organ owned by James Brown
- Date
- 1968
-
Record, Cover, Voyager (Duplicate)
- Date
- 1977
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Bell
- Date
- Late 19th-early 20th century
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Afghan vest worn by Jimi Hendrix
- Date
- 1960s
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Hunting horn
- Date
- Late 15th century
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Prince's Yellow Cloud Electric Guitar
- date made
- 1983
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Stradivarius Violin: "The Greffuhle"
- Date made
- ca 1700