Kitsap History Museum (Out of Many, One display)

Quincy Jones Piano

The piano came from Sinclair Heights, a segregated wartime housing development built in Bremerton during World War II to house Black shipyard workers and their families who had migrated to Kitsap County for work at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Housed in the Sinclair Heights community center, this was the piano where a young Quincy Jones first sat down to play. Jones later recalled that this moment was when he realized music would become his life’s calling.

How it represents the community’s American experience:

Through this single object, visitors can explore themes of migration, segregation, resilience, creativity, and cultural influence. The piano represents not only the lived experiences of Black families in wartime Bremerton, but also the extraordinary potential that can emerge from local communities. From a segregated housing project in Kitsap County to becoming one of the most influential musicians and producers in American history, Quincy Jones’s story reflects the many intertwined histories that shape America.

On display at the Kitsap History Museum, Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. June 1 – December 31, 2026.