There is a new kind of museum coming to the heart of the fun and vibrant neighborhood of West Concord. Seventy-four Commonwealth Avenue will soon be home to The Guitar Museum of New England!
“Concord — arguably the birthplace of America — is the perfect home for a museum that celebrates the iconic instrument that represents such a range of American music, from bluegrass, to country, to blues, to rock n’ roll and beyond,” said Wilson Schünemann, Founder of Minuteman Guitars and the creator of the Guitar Museum of New England. “West Concord is a dynamic and arts-oriented neighborhood, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to pick this spot as the future location to make this dream a reality in the town that my family calls home.”
Wilson has been synonymous with guitars since his first (month-long) exhibit of a stunning collection of more than 20 instruments built by Luthier Steve Klein, showcased at The Umbrella Arts Center in 2017. That exhibition attracted thousands of visitors and culminated in a day-long symposium on the Art of Guitar Building and a concert with the legendary Bill Frisell at the theatre at the Umbrella. The musical instrument curators of both the MET and the MFA made the trip to Concord to see the exhibit, which was written up in the national publication Guitar Aficionado.
In the years since, Wilson has put together custom exhibits on a range of guitar themes, both in Concord and across the Northeast. His extensive network of legendary guitar builders in the United States and around the world, acclaimed musicians, music photographers, and music instrument museum curators all helped shape a dream into a plan of action.
Wilson and his wife, Jennifer (co-founder of Discover Concord magazine), were delighted to acquire 74 Commonwealth Avenue and are looking forward to working with the West Concord Advisory Committee and the West Concord Cultural District as they develop plans for a new building to house the museum. They plan to host plenty of community coffee chats and lunch and learn sessions in early 2026 to ensure the museum adds to the neighborhood in a deeply positive way.
While the plans for the museum are developing, the Schünemanns plan to host pop-up exhibits in 2026 to bring a fun preview of the museum to the community.
“Everyone I’ve spoken with is excited to hear that the Guitar Museum of New England is coming to West Concord,” said Helen Halloran, President of the West Concord Business Community. “It will be a perfect fit for our cultural district and a unique addition to the neighborhood. This will undoubtedly attract new people to the village who will discover all the other great places to shop and eat in West Concord!”
“I’m so excited that Wilson is bringing the Guitar Museum of New England to West Concord!” said Kate Yoder, Executive Director and Founder of the Concord Conservatory of Music. “The museum will be an exciting destination for visitors new to the area to explore our vibrant cultural district and all we offer. I see many synergies that can be explored between CCM and the Guitar Museum, such as sharing space, providing master classes, and being a great resource for our music community.”
Tax-deductible donations to help bring the museum to life are deeply appreciated and can be mailed to The Guitar Museum of New England, PO Box 1037, Concord, MA 01742.
Anyone interested in staying informed as plans come together is invited to sign up for a quarterly newsletter at GuitarMuseum.org.
*This article made possible with the support of the Guitar Museum of New England