John William "Blind Boone" Piano

Boone County Historical Society collection.

The historic "Blind Boone" piano was manufactured especially for John William Boone in 1891 by the Chickering Company. Boone regularly played it, along with a Steinway, an Estey and several other pianos at concert events throughout the Midwest.

After Boone's death in 1927, the 9-foot oak piano was sold to pay for liens against his estate. It became the property of the Columbia Public Schools and for several years was used in Douglass School in Columbia.