VERMILLION, S.D. — Pianists young and old visit the National Music Museum on the University of South Dakota campus to see historical keyboard instruments that date back to the 17th century in the museum’s Abell Gallery.

Three of the instruments are still playable and to resist playing them is quite the challenge, said museum curator, Sarah Richardson, a master’s student from Gaithersburg, Md.

“As a museum person, I understand the preservation aspect of not playing these instruments,” said Richardson. “But as a musician, of course you just want to take them out and play every single one, just to see how it sounds.”

Many visitors were shocked to discover the museum in such a small town and were taken aback by the selection of instruments. As they stood quietly in front of lines of pianos, visitors recalled how pianos have impacted their own lives.

“It was typical, All-American, take me to the piano teacher when I was small and it just kept going,” said Susan Gansky from Wisconsin, who was visiting the museum while her 17-year-old son trained at a University of South Dakota basketball camp.

The museum is open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays and can be found in the Carnegie Library on Clark Street.