The first time an electric guitar was played for an audience was in Wichita, KS, when band leader and guitarist Gage Brewer debuted the instrument on Halloween 1932 at the Shadowland Dance Hall.

The world’s most popular musical instrument made its debut in Wichita, and since then, Sedgwick County has given rise to several guitar heroes, from Joe Walsh of the Eagles to Marcie Reyes, a troubadour on the Chautauqua circuit. Today, as part of its collection, the Museum boasts of numerous guitars belonging to these local heroes. A selection of these will be exhibited in our lobby’s Windows on Collection display off the Main Street entrance.

This exhibit is part of the Museum’s “Windows on Collections” – A frequently changing exhibit of artifacts from the Museum’s growing collection. Depending upon any given theme, this exhibit ranges from the topical to the bizarre.

See this exhibit before it’s gone!

Mid-April-May 2025

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum — 204 S. Main