Have you ever wondered how people traveled with their music before the iPhone, mp3 player, or even the Walkman? Pictured here is a portable phonograph from the 1920s that belonged to a family in Salem. You can see it on display now in our exhibit “Cheers for 30 Years: the 30 Year History of Salem Museum!” Portable phonographs, like this one, were marketed as a great way to take music to the beach, on a picnic, or for automobile rides. They were powered by a hand crank instead of electricity or a battery, allowing them to be played anywhere. Although their popularity did not last, they remain one of the first ways people could enjoy their music wherever they wanted, like we do with our phones and computers today.
The Salem Museum opened in the Williams-Brown House on June 27, 1992. The Museum celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year with a new feature exhibit that takes a look back at artifacts and stories now preserved in the Museum’s collections. Some favorite, but rarely seen, objects will be on display. Salem Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-4 and located at 801 E. Main St.
