Banjo Museum – History of Banjo

Do you play the banjo? If not, do you know someone who does? The banjo is a unique and iconic instrument that has been around for centuries. A museum in Oklahoma City is dedicated to this fascinating instrument. If you are ever in the area, visit the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City. You will learn about banjo history and see some fantastic instruments on display.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the rich history of the Banjo Museum and go through the details you guys are curious about.

American Banjo Museum

The American Banjo Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City dedicated to the banjo’s, the most iconic instrument in America. The museum was founded by the current executive board of directors, Béla Fleck. Béla Fleck co-founded the American Banjo Museum. You may recognize his name from winning 15 Grammy awards, he’s an amazing person with extensive knowledge of everything about the banjo. He recently won a Grammy for Best Folk Album with Abigail Washburn, the museum has also been given the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame title.

Origination

The Museum was initially started as a travelling exhibition, but they realized there was such an extensive interest, and then they needed to open it up as a museum. The permanent collection of the American Banjo Museum hall of Fame is one of the world’s most important collections of banjos and continues to grow with upcoming exhibits. Since 2015, they have been doing travelling exhibitions across the United States and now countries like China and Germany.

Exhibition

The American Banjo Museum is divided into two levels, totaling 16,000 square feet. Not only will you see musical instruments on display, but also memorabilia and artwork.

Museum Instruments

The American Banjo Museum hall of fame has an extensive collection of banjos (Over 300 instruments), all on display for you to see. There are so many different types of banjo designs, but they have over 10 banjos on display from different eras.

Artifacts

In addition to the musical instruments of popular culture, there are also a number of other artifacts on public display at the American Banjo Museum galleries, including artwork and photographs from prominent special banjo players. You can learn about many aspects of banjo’s history while also checking out some amazing memorabilia.

List of all the Banjo Museums in the World

1. National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota
2. The American Banjo Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
3. International Banjo Collectors Exhibition (Banjo Museum), St. Louis, Missouri
4. National Banjo Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5. International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky
6. National Four-string Banjo Hall of Fame, Guthrie, Oklahoma
7. The Washburn Banjo Museum, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
8. The International Clawhammer Banjo Hall of Fame and Museum, Staunton, Virginia
9. Banjo Museum, Avoca Beach, New South Wales
10. The Seagrove Heritage Center, Seagrove, North Carolina
11. National Clawhammer Banjo Hall of Fame and Museum, Cave Creek, Arizona
12. The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Fame & Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky
13. National Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Mexia State Park, Texas
14. The National Round-Up banjo Club Hall of Fame and Museum, Guthrie, Oklahoma
15. Banjo World Headquarters (Banjo Museum), Hamden, Connecticut
16. The American Banjo Museum hall of fame and Library, Boonville, Missouri
17. International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky
18. The International Bluegrass American Music Hall of Fame and Museum (IBM-HF), Owensboro, Kentucky
19. The Banjo Museum, Avoca Beach, New South Wales
20. The International Clawhammer Banjo Hall of Fame and Museum (ICHB), Cave Creek, Arizona

FAQs

How many Banjo Museums are there?

There are many museums around the world dedicated to banjo life. Banjos have been played in folk music, bluegrass, old-time band music, blues, and various other genres. These museums allow key people to see the different types of antique banjos and how they have evolved. There are currently 20 recorded banjo museums, with one museum having closed in 2008.

Which was the First Banjo Museum?

Benjamin Kenneth S. Goldstein established the earliest banjo museum in the world in 1970. The museum was located in New Market, Virginia, held over 100 banjos, and closed down in 2008 due to a lack of funds and limited public access.

Conclusion

The banjo is undoubtedly an American icon that has been around for centuries. If you are ever in the Oklahoma City area, check out the American Banjo Museum. You will learn about the social history of this unique instrument and see its impressive most extensive collection. We hope this blog post has helped you find the answers you’re seeking.