He Builds Guitars from Bleachers & Battleships

What happens when historic wood gets a second life as music? In this episode of What If…, meet Nebraska guitar maker Phil Whitmarsh, founder of Old Market Guitarworks, who transforms reclaimed wood from battleships, stadium bleachers, barns and historic buildings into one-of-a-kind guitars with stories built into every grain. From the decommissioned USS Texas to Memorial Stadium bleachers and the clinic of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, Phil’s handcrafted instruments preserve history while creating something entirely new. What began as a COVID-era hobby evolved into a passion project rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability, and storytelling. Through sawdust, splinters and song, Phil proves that the past can still resonate in powerful ways. 🎸 Featured in this story: • Guitars built from reclaimed historic wood • The story behind Old Market Guitarworks • Memorial Stadium bleacher guitar gifted to Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine • A special project honoring Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte • Behind-the-scenes guitar craftsmanship and restoration #Nebraska #GuitarMaking #ReclaimedWood #OldMarketGuitarworks #WhatIf #MusicHistory #HandmadeGuitars #NebraskaStories #WhatIfNebraska © 2026 Nebraska Public Media Foundation. All rights reserved. Learn more about the innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship across Nebraska by visiting https://NebraskaPublicMedia.org/WhatIf This video “He Builds Guitars from Bleachers and Battleships” is a part of the 7th season of “What If…Nebraska”. FOLLOW US: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NebraskaPublicMedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaPublicMedia X (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/NebPublicMedia Instagram: https://instagram.com/NebraskaPublicMedia