In most places, the hammered dulcimer is a "revival instrument" - an instrument which had virtually died out by the early 20th Century and which has been revived only since the folk music revival of the 1960's.

In Michigan, there was a continuous tradition of dulcimer playing, which was actively supported by Henry Ford and his wife Mary in the early 20th Century. Michigan is the home of the largest hammered dulcimer festival in the world, at the town of Evart in July.

Michigan is also the only state with an active movement to have the hammered dulcimer declared the official state musical instrument; and the only state to have a dulcimer tuning named after it. (The traditional octave bass tuning is often called "Michigan Tuning".)

Taken from this site

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