Sacred Steel Music &
History Museum
The Sacred Steel Music and History Museum was established and dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of the time- honored Hawaiian steel guitar from an African American perspective. It includes the lives and works of prominent musicians, the evolution and variety of lap and pedal steel guitars. The stories of the early pioneers of sacred steel such as brothers Troman and Willie Eason, Henry Nelson, and Lorenzo Harrison can be found and studied in the museum.
Dual Functioning Space
Our expansive, multi-purpose venue serves as both a museum and a performing arts event center, accommodating up to 85 guests. The space features six L-shaped, portable walls equipped with locking wheel casters to ensure stability and flexibility in arrangement. Across a total of 24 surfaces, the museum showcases a comprehensive collection documenting 80 years of sacred steel music history, providing an immersive experience for visitors.
Extra Large Display Cases
The museum’s extra-large display cases, expertly crafted by carpenter Alan Brown—formerly of Akron, Ohio—serve as a striking showcase of sacred steel music history. Each case houses an extensive collection of memorabilia, including photographs, posters, plaques, and steel guitars, alongside carefully curated mannequins and other artifacts. Prominent figures in the sacred steel tradition, such as Felton Williams Jr., the Campbell Brothers, and Aubrey Ghent, are honored within these displays, highlighting their contributions to the genre. Additionally, a monitor plays footage featuring the 2019 Queens of Sacred Steel, offering visitors an immersive audiovisual experience that celebrates the legacy and evolution of this unique musical art form.
Sacred Steel Archive & Research Center
The Sacred Steel Archive & Research Center in Toledo, Ohio, is dedicated to acquiring, promoting, and preserving sacred steel materials in a variety of formats. As the world's largest repository of African American sacred steel recordings and historical documentation, the center offers an unparalleled collection of audio and video recordings, interviews, documentaries, concerts, and other materials essential to the study and appreciation of this unique musical tradition.
Equipped with five touchscreen computers and headphones, the center provides an immersive and accessible experience for researchers, scholars, ethnomusicologists, and sacred steel enthusiasts alike. Through its commitment to preserving this rich musical heritage, the Sacred Steel Archive & Research Center serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to explore and understand the profound influence of sacred steel music.
Harmony House Performing Arts Center
Harmony House Performing Arts Center (HHPA), named in honor of our first granddaughter, Harmony London Grace, is dedicated to providing wholesome, uplifting entertainment that families can enjoy together. As a versatile event venue, HHPA embraces a wide range of musical performances and word-based arts, including spoken word, poetry, and clean comedy, ensuring an atmosphere that leaves audiences feeling inspired and enriched.
To support performers, HHPA offers a comprehensive backline of equipment as part of its rental package. This includes three guitar amplifiers, one bass amplifier, a keyboard, a drum kit, microphones, and a PA mixing board, ensuring a seamless and professional experience for artists.
Toledo Quartet Musical Association
The Toledo Quartet Musical Association (TQMA), established in 1950, represents an essential chapter in the region’s gospel music history. Despite its profound contributions, its legacy had remained largely unpreserved until now. Within the museum, TQMA’s dedicated space may be modest, but its impact is undeniable.
A compelling montage of photographs, CDs, and albums highlights the artistry of numerous past and present quartet groups, offering visitors an immersive journey through the tradition of gospel quartet music. Enhancing the experience, a touchscreen computer provides access to an extensive collection of audio and video performances, allowing enthusiasts to engage with the music in a dynamic and interactive way. This valuable resource serves as both an educational tool for gospel music aficionados and a research asset for historians studying the local musical heritage.
Meet the team
Our Excellent & Expert Staff
Sacred Strings Records, Inc. Commitee
Our UPCominG EVENTS
For The City of Toledo
Each year in August, many African American lap and pedal steel players make the pilgrimage to Toledo, Ohio for this annual celebration and live video recording.
The honorable mayor of the city of Toledo (Mayor Paula Hicks Hudson) proclaimed the month of August, Sacred Steel Music and History month in 2015.
The mayor personally hand delivered the proclamation to Del Ray and Kelli Grace, recognizing the importance of preserving the time-honored tradition of the steel guitar.
FAQS
What is Sacred Steel?
Sacred Steel is an African-American gospel tradition that features the steel guitar in religious services. It originated in Pentecostal churches in the 1930s
Where did Sacred Steel originate?
It developed in the Church of the Living God, particularly in the Keith and Jewell Dominions.
How did Sacred Steel gain popularity?
Sacred Steel gained wider recognition through performances by artists like Robert Randolph, Calvin Cooke, Aubrey Ghent and the Campbell Brothers, who brought the genre to international fame.
God Bless Sacred Steel!
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