Music is an important part of being human and seems to be universal as some form of music is found in all cultures. Drums, rattles, and flutes seem to be the oldest musical instruments. Over the millennia, humans have invented numerous musical instruments, including the piano.
Pianos are not a particularly ancient musical instrument, but date back to the early 1700s when the softly dampened hammers of the piano began to replace the pluckier, tinnier sound of the harpsichord. The first piano was produced by Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori in 1709.
In London, Johannes Zumpe introduced the square piano in 1760. By the end of the eighteenth century, square pianos dominated as they were less expensive. By 1855, the square piano was the most popular style of piano. In that year, Steinway & Sons introduced a square piano with an iron frame that had exceptional sound quality.
While they remained popular during the nineteenth century, square pianos were gradually replaced by upright pianos. By 1880, the square pianos was officially “extinct” in both Europe and America.
Shown below are some museum displays of square pianos.
Prosser Historical Museum, Prosser, Washington
Shown above is an 1867 Chickering and Sons Square Grand Piano. The piano was transported by ship from New England, around South America’s Cape Horn and up the West Coast to Astoria, Oregon. From Astoria, it was brought up the Columbia River to Paterson, then hauled by wagon across the Horse Heaven Hills to Prosser.
Shown above is the carved piano leg.
Shown above is the piano stool.
Cashmere Museum, Cashmere, Washington
The square piano shown above was brought “around the horn” by a sailing ship in 1835.
Heritage Station Museum, Pendleton, Oregon
The square piano shown above was made by the Sherman-Hyde company in the late 1800s.
Deschutes Historical Museum, Bend, Oregon
Fort Dalles Museum, The Dalles, Oregon
East Benton County Historical Society and Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California
Burrows House Museum, Newport, Oregon
More museums
Museums 201/301/401 compare similar exhibits in several museums.
Museums 201: Player pianos (photo diary)
Museums 301: Upright pianos (photo diary)
Museums 301: Pump Organs (photo diary)
Museums 301: Medicines (photo diary)
Museums 301: Washing machines (photo diary)
Museums 401: Sewing machines (photo diary)
Museums 401: Shoes (photo diary)
Museums 201: Railway offices (photo diary)