Photo Captions for GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World

Old World New World:  An Indian sitar side-by-side with a Fender Telecaster

Kids and Giant Guitar:  Two young boys play with the strings of the world’s largest playable guitar

FenderStratocaster:  The famous Fender Stratocaster

Frying Pan Closeup 2:  The Frying Pan by Rickenbacker is the oldest known electric guitar.

Giant V Pittsburgh Kids:  Children explore and play on the world’s largest playable guitar, a 43 foot Flying V.

Silvertone Sears:  The iconic Silvertone Sears guitar

Strobe Guitar Interactive:  A visitor explores the features of the Strobe Guitar Interactive exhibit

Rickenbacker Lapsteel:  An authentic Rickenbacker Lapsteel guitar

See-Through Guitar:  The inner workings of a guitar can be seen with this transparent instrument.

Visitors:  Guests are fascinated by the world’s largest playable guitar, a 43 foot Flying V.

Photo Credit:  © The National GUITAR Museum

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Join Us for the West Coast Premiere of

GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Will ROCK You!

December 20, 2013—April 6, 2014

GUITAR Has It All: Music. Technology. Science. Video. History.

Pop culture. Games. Entertainment. A Concert Series!

San Diego, CA—September 24, 2013—Take a journey through a motley crew of legendary guitars in our latest exhibition as GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World makes its West Coast premiere at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center on Friday, December 20, 2013. This touring exhibition of The National GUITAR Museum—the first museum in the world dedicated to the history, evolution and cultural impact of the guitar—will remain at the Fleet through April 6, 2014.

Explore the history of the world’s most recognized musical instrument. Experience diverse genres of music and discover the science of pitch and tone. Crossing over cultural boundaries, the guitar has made a significant impact on a wide variety of groups, from gypsies to cowboys to teenage rebels. Trace the evolution of the guitar—from lutes and ouds to modern high-tech instruments—and see how the instrument became the cultural icon it is today. Highlights include displays of the guitar’s role as an agent of personal freedom, social change and expression, and the instrument’s importance to music ranging from the protest movement to punk rock.

“Not a fan of rock and roll? Don’t fret, GUITAR celebrates all music—from classical to heavy metal,” says Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Executive Director Dr. Steve Snyder.

See more than 60 guitars and nearly 100 historical artifacts that immerse you in the heart of music. Experience the rush of the world’s most recognized musical instrument through the powerful lens of science. You, too, can play a Guinness Record-breaking 43.5 foot-long guitar. Discover how the selection of different materials and strings, fused with electromagnetism and amplification, create an elaborate device that has revolutionized music.

“The guitar is the most enduring icon in American history,” says The National Guitar Museum Executive Director and founder H.P. Newquist. “It has been around longer than baseball, basketball, soft drinks and sports cars.” Adds Newquist, “It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been affected by the guitar, whether as players or as fans of music ranging from country and folk to jazz and rock. And it may be apocryphal, but it’s said that the two most recognizable man-made shapes on the planet are the Coke bottle and the electric guitar.”

This fully immersive exhibition explores all facets of the world’s most popular instrument, from its history as an instrument of popular culture over the past 400 years to the science of creating sound with wood and steel. Visitors will experience the science, sound, history and cultural impact of the guitar in an exhibition whose instruments range from the rare and antique to the wildly popular and innovative—along with hands-on interactives, models, touchscreens, performance video, audio, stunning images and photographs.

GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World is an exciting and engaging experience that gives visitors the chance to interact with the guitar not only from the perspective of its history, evolution and design but also through the music it has created and the technology that continues to enhance it.

The exhibition is the official touring presence of The National GUITAR Museum itself. “Most people are amazed that there is no museum anywhere dedicated solely to the guitar and its history,” says Newquist. “While there are several galleries and private collections in the U.S., there is nothing that explores all aspects of the guitar from its evolution over the course of centuries to its current cultural impact—which includes being the inspiration for the best-selling videogames ever. The National GUITAR Museum changes all that.”

GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World has its West Coast premiere at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center on Friday, December 20, 2013, and will reverberate through the Fleet through April 6, 2014. The exhibition should be available for pre-arranged media demonstrations mid-month, with an invitation-only VIP Media event scheduled for Thursday, December 19, 2013. We will also be announcing a concert series in conjunction with the exhibition later in the year, to feature local and renowned musicians.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is located at 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101. Gallery admission, which includes access to all eight exhibit galleries: Adults $13, Seniors $12, Children $11. The Fleet’s hours are Monday–Thursday: 10AM–5PM, Friday–Sunday: 10AM–6PM. For more information, call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website at http://www.rhfleet.org/exhibitions/guitar.

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Celebrate the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s 40th Anniversary Year!

Forty years ago, a spark ignited our imaginations! March 9, 2013, kicked off a year-long celebration of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and its 40 years of success in bringing hands-on science to our San Diego community. In 1973, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center opened its doors and brought interactive exhibits and the world’s first IMAX® Dome Theater to San Diego. Today, the Fleet inspires minds and connects individuals to science and technology through more than 100 “do touch” exhibits for all ages and amazing IMAX films and planetarium shows in the recently renovated Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. Enjoy our year-long celebration, featuring a blockbuster exhibition, incredible events and dynamic educational experiences.

About the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (“the Fleet”) is home to Southern California’s only Giant Dome Theater and 100+ hands-on science exhibits for all ages. Watch immersive giant-screen films in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, featuring the world’s first NanoSeam™ Dome screen. The Fleet is the first Giant Dome Screen Theater in the country to share a digital planetarium with an IMAX® Dome theater, following the recent installation of a new, state-of-the-art, giant dome screen digital GSX™ system from Global Immersion, which augments the existing IMAX projector in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater with one of the most comprehensive and powerful full-dome experiences available today. Experience eight galleries of fun, interactive exhibits, including major traveling exhibitions. A hurricane simulator thrills visitors with gusts of wind up to 80 miles per hour. Enjoy sandwiches, salads and healthy treats in Galileo’s Café. Find unique educational toys and games, books, IMAX DVDs and more in the North Star Science Store. Located at 1875 El Prado, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo on Park Blvd, the Fleet Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the public understanding and enjoyment of science and technology. For information regarding current admission prices, please call (619) 238-1233 or visit our website at www.rhfleet.org.

About The National GUITAR Museum

The National GUITAR Museum, LLC is the first museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the history, evolution and cultural impact of the guitar. The NGM has assembled a world-class team of guitarists, executives, technology experts, designers and production staff to develop one of the most innovative experiences ever presented. Its touring exhibition, GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World will travel to 15–20 cities over the next five years before becoming the basis of The National Guitar Museum in its permanent home. The Museum will utilize advanced technology to create an environment that is engaging, entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages.

The Museum’s board is composed of individuals drawn from the music, technology, event and museum communities. Current advisors include guitar greats Steve Vai, Johnny Winter, Steve Howe, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Liona Boyd, Pete Huttlinger and Pat Kirtley. The Executive Director of the Museum is H.P. Newquist. To learn more about the NGM, visit us online at: nationalguitarmuseum.com and facebook.com/guitarmuseum. For more information, contact The National GUITAR Museum at director@nationalguitarmuseum.com or 917-208-4333.

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