LATROBE, Pa. -- The piano that Fred Rogers used to craft the music to “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” and invite generations of fans to be “his neighbor” was donated to a Westmoreland County college on Tuesday.

Rogers’ widow, Joanne Rogers, gave the 1920s Steinway D Grand Piano to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

The piano was donated to the Fred M. Rogers Center at the college in memory of the late television host.

The center doesn’t open until Thursday, but the piano was music to the ears of those on campus.

Joanne Rogers watched as the concert piano was tuned Tuesday inside the building created in her husband’s memory.

Music was a common love between Joanne and her late husband.

They met as music majors in college and not long after, Fred Rogers introduced his future wife to his Steinway piano.

“Fred’s grandmother gave him that piano when he was in his early teens, so I'm guessing that was about 1941 or 42,” said Joanne Rogers.

Rogers and other musicians, like Yo-Yo Ma, used the television show to encourage children to express their feelings through music.

Joanne Rogers said it was a way for her husband to express himself.

“If he were angry, it would come out through his fingers, and if he were happy it would come out thru his fingers,” Joanne Rogers said.

The piano was completely refurbished, and would be worth about $80,000, but since it belonged to Fred Rogers, it has become invaluable.

Joanne knew the center named in her late husband’s honor would be the perfect place for it, along with his sweaters, shoes and character from the land of make believe.

Rogers said she spent her life as a concert pianist and now hopes other musicians will visit the center to play her husband’s piano.