I had no idea that the 1st electric guitar originated in Wichita, KS.

"It's really not well known," said Eric Cale, director of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. "It's something we've been researching for several years. But this is panning out to be a solid, documented thing."

The museum plans to showcase the guitar, a 1932 Ro-Pat-In Electro Spanish Guitar, in an exhibit opening Oct. 27th. The exhibit is a prelude to a larger exhibit planned for next spring called "Wichita -- Cradle of the Electric Guitar," Cale said.

The person who debuted the guitar was Wichita club and band leader Gage Brewer. During the first part of the 20th century, Brewer traveled the nation as a radio and vaudeville performer.

The guitar was built by George Beauchamp, founder of the National Resophonic Guitar Co. of Los Angeles and developer of Rickenbacker Electric Instruments, the first electric guitar company. Brewer and Beauchamp became friends.