Ragtime is a uniquely American musical idiom and it is generally distinguished by its three or four contrasting sections or strains, each one being 16 or 32 measures in length. Played by itinerant pianists who made their way across the South and Midwest, the music first began to be formally published in the mid-1890s, and it soon made its way to Europe and other parts of the world. The Library of Congress recently created this fun and interesting site which pays homage to this art form through essays, musical selections, and digitized sheet music. Visitors can browse through the offerings at their leisure, though they may wish to start their journey by reading one of the four explanatory essays which cover topics such as "The History of Ragtime" and "The 'Classic' Rag". Moving on, visitors can also read biographies of artists like Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb and also listen to noted ragtime performer Bob Milne.