American Banjo Museum
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (9 E. Sheridan Ave.)
When to visit: Tuesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm
Cost: $8 for adults, $7 for students, $6 for kids
Time needed: 30-45 minutes
Website: www.americanbanjomuseum.com
When I heard there was a museum in Oklahoma City dedicated to the banjo, my decision to visit was a no-brainer.
Besides my love of quirky attractions, I’ve always considered the banjo one of the most underrated instruments in music, as demonstrated not just in bluegrass and country music but also in the revival of rootsy rock by current bands like the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons.
Another contemporary artist who provides unbelievable finger plucking is Bela Fleck, whom I first heard when he guested on some Dave Matthews Band songs in concert.
Exhibits Inside the American Banjo Museum
The museum opens with a display of the banjo in popular culture, from Pete Seeger and Earl Scruggs to Kermit the Frog. Don’t try to hate on “Rainbow Connection ” – that’s one of the great banjo songs of all-time!
The museum has a photo gallery of famous banjo players. I’ve always heard comedian Steve Martin is a jerk, but he’s quite the banjo player and has been winning Grammy Awards in recent years.
This special double scroll peghead banjo comes from the 1840s. It’s extremely rare, as few banjos made before the Civil War have survived and remain on display anywhere in the world.
Visitors will see dozens and dozens of banjos from the past 150 years here across two floors, with a special section for the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame.
There’s a short video presentation showing the banjo in Hollywood films over the years, including Deliverance.
While the dozens of banjos on display will impress fans of the instrument, one thing the American Banjo Museum could do to improve its collection is add some other artifacts.
Folks who are not banjo fans but still like quirky museums would probably appreciate more displays like this dress once worn by Georgette Twain, “The Queen of the Banjo.”
This is also cool – a banjo autographed by President Franklin Roosevelt. It belonged to Atlanta banjoist Perry Bechtel, who had performed for FDR back when he was in the White House.
Bechtel died in 1982 and the signed banjo cover was discovered among his belongings in 2008.
Specifics: Tickets, Hours, Etc
The American Banjo Museum now has a collection of more than 400 instruments. That’s a sizable collection for such a niche subject matter.
Tickets can be purchased at the door. Adult tickets now cost $8 as of this writing, while seniors and students pay $7 and kids ages 5 to 17 pay $6.
The museum is closed on Mondays and open 11 am to 6 pm on Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 pm on Sunday.
Parking can be a little tricky since it’s located in a busy area. I had to walk a couple blocks over to find a space on the street.
Oklahoma City has a lot of unique museums and attractions. Don’t forget to visit the Museum of Osteology and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
If you like quirky instruments, read about the Kazoo Museum in South Carolina!
Would you visit the American Banjo Museum?
