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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.

  • Prince's Yellow Cloud Electric Guitar
  • Technics Turntable, used by Grandmaster Flash
  • Boombox, used by Fab 5 Freddy
  • King B-Flat Trumpet, used by Dizzy Gillespie
  • Tito Puente's Timbales
  • Cuban Rumba Dress
  • Patsy Cline's Costume

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