I'm Dave. Today we're exploring a unique topic: musical instrument museums. You've heard of the Louvre or The Met, but what about museums entirely dedicated to world instruments? Those that have shaped today's sounds.

Today we're covering five hidden gems where music and history meet in inspiring ways. Let's start in Brussels, Belgium at the Musical Instrument Museum, known as the MIM.

The MIM, for short, is housed in a stunning Art Noveaux building and features more than 8,000 instruments. They range from medieval bagpipes to Indian sitars. I've been there - and it's wonderful! Here's a highlight: They've got the world's first saxophone created and patented here by Adolphe Sax in 1846! It's incredible.

MIM is often overlooked by tourists. Don't let that fool you. With infrared audio guides that help you hear each instrument as you see it, it's really cool. In fact, it's immersive.

Next we head to Vermillion, South Dakota, home of the National Music Museum.

This museum has got one of the most impressive collections in the world. Violins by Stradivari, and one of the earliest known pianos. It may fly under the radar, but for music lovers and historians, it's a must visit. The National Music Museum has two unique Baroque-era pianos from the mid 17-hundreds. One's from France, the other from Portugal. Both use the original Cristofori-style action. Together, they're among the rarest and most historically significant pianos in the world.

Let's head over to Hamamatsu, Japan, birthplace of Yamaha and Kawai. The City's Museum of Musical Instruments showcases over 1300 instruments from every continent. Interactive exhibits let you play, sound and explore how instruments are made. It's rarely featured on tourist lists, a hidden treasure.

In Leipzig, Germany, home of J.S. Bach, Music Director at St. Thomas Church, you'll find the Grassi Museum of Musical Instruments. Its collection stretches from the Renaissance to modern times with playable replicas, and even original manuscripts. The museum is often overshadowed by Europe's other cities, but for classical music lovers, the Grassi is a quiet gem to be discovered.

Let's head over to Tehran, where the Music Museum of Iran steeps in Persian musical traditions. You'll hear the tar and the santur, and archival audio and video that brings stories to life. It's a powerful tribute to Iran's rich and ancient musical heritage.

And here's a bonus for our U.S. listeners: the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. With over 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries, it's one of the most comprehensive collections in the world. As you walk through the galleries, wireless headsets lets you hear music from each region, turning your visit into a global journey of sound. These museums aren't just about looking at instruments. They're about hearing and feeling the pulse of human creativity and craftsmanship across time.

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See you next time on Mighty Line Minute!