Philip Gura has plucked a history of the banjo straight from America's musical heart.
Cases containing mandolins, violins, and guitars line the walls.
An antique piano rests in the parlor. Banjos dating back as far as the 1840s hang every couple of feet around the walls. One is made of rosewood, another has eagle brackets. Others have brass tailpieces, silver stars, scalloped necks, or fancy frets. But these instruments aren't just for show.