Exhibit dedicated to guitars set to open this month at Carnegie Science Center

Guitar enthusiasts will want to pay a visit to the Carnegie Science Center later this month when a new exhibition, “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World,” takes center stage.

The history of the guitar is a fascinating one and dates back further than most people may realize — the stringed instrument first appeared in Spain around the turn of the 15th century.

But the guitar’s impact may not have been truly felt until the 20th century when the electric guitar was invented. Contrary to popular belief, the electric guitar didn’t first show up when the Beatles did, or even Buddy Holly or Bo Diddley for that matter. It was used by jazz musicians when the instrument first surfaced in the early 1930s.

However, it was rock ‘n’ roll that truly popularized the electric guitar and largely inspired this new exhibition, which premieres May 20 and runs through Oct. 30. It is free with general admission to the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

The exhibit takes visitors through the science of sound and music with nearly 100 rare, antique and unique guitars. Included are a dozen hands-on interactive features, with the headliner being the opportunity to strum The Guinness Book of World Records’ certified largest, playable electric guitar.

“We are truly honored to showcase the history and science behind the instrument that has made a huge impact in our society,” said Jason Brown, Henry Buhl Jr. director of the Carnegie Science Center. “The guitar has been part of American culture for hundreds of years.”

The exhibition features everything from lutes to high-tech and experimental instruments with opportunities to learn about the cultural and physical history and popularity of the guitar.

“The guitar is the most enduring icon in American history,” said HP Newquist, founder and executive director of the National Guitar Museum. “It has been around longer than baseball, basketball, soft drinks and sports cars.”

“Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World” is a traveling exhibition of the National Guitar Museum, the world’s first museum dedicated exclusively to the art, history, evolution and cultural impact of the guitar.