Visit Woodstock Museum
For an entire generation of young Americans, the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival became the ideal place to express their opposition to the Vietnam War and the war conflicts in which the United States was immersed at that time. In this way, through a message of love, peace, tolerance and ecological awareness, the young people of the late 1960s expressed their repudiation of any action that disturbed harmony.
Half a century ago, Max Yasgur’s farm in the town of Bethel, New York, was the setting for one of the most iconic mass concerts of the 20th century. In this event, 33 musical performances became the voice of a generation that shared the ideals of the so-called hippies.
Three days of peace, love and music transmitted through the voice of Janis Joplin with The Kozmic Blues Band, Grateful Dead, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, Joe Cocker and The Grease Band and Sweetwater, among others, became in an emblem of the time.
The space where the Woodstock festival was held was declared a national monument for quite some time. Near the place where the stage was located, there is a commemorative plaque. Despite the constant presence of tourists from all over, it is a place where you can breathe a lot of peace and without a doubt attracts an interest that transcends generations. Now, the place where this festival was held, in the Bethel district (New York state), houses a place where peace, music and art were the protagonists.
Bethel Woods Center emerged as an initiative of Alan Gerry, a New Yorker with the intention of improving the quality of life in his community. In 1990, he founded the Gerry Foundation with the promise of eventually creating a center dedicated exclusively to the arts. Eight years later, it acquired more than 90 miles of land where the Woodstock festival had been held three decades earlier. The first action was the organization of a music festival called “Day in the Garden”.
In 2008, the Woodstock Memorial Museum opened, covering part of the farm’s original land. Here, visitors can explore the location of the historic stage. Likewise, a pavilion with capacity for 10,000 spectators was built, which was inaugurated by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. In addition, an amphitheater was incorporated for more intimate events, as well as a section dedicated to gastronomic activities.
The Museum at Bethel Woods is undoubtedly the ultimate celebration of the cultural phenomenon of Woodstock. For those who wish to visit, it is important to make time to explore the main exhibition, which features 21 short films, interactive exhibits, a psychedelic bus, fascinating artifacts and first-person accounts. What especially stands out is how Woodstock demonstrated to the world the transformative power of music. In addition, the site has special annual exhibitions, which delve into the stories of the 1960s.
After visiting the museum, psychedelic t-shirts and festival souvenirs can be purchased at the Bindy Bazaar Museum Shop. It’s also possible to visit Yasgur’s Farm Cafe, a farm-inspired restaurant named after Max Yasgur, the farmer who generously gave up his land for the festival. Another special place is to walk the new hiking trail in the forest, where vestiges of the Bindy Bazaar, the original festival store, are still preserved.
As an option, you can take a free external circuit tour where you only pay an entrance fee to enter the museum, designed with tours of the socio-political and cultural background since the 1950s, which show the events that triggered the characteristics of the festival.
Bethel Woods experiences increased activity during concert days and weekends during the summer months. For those planning to attend a concert, it is recommended to arrive early enough to ensure adequate parking.
Regardless, throughout the year Bethel Woods Center offers activities that seek to teach, inspire, educate and empower through the arts and humanities.
We have the unbeatable price of $500 per day for your Billboard:
Option 1: Your 60 second video/photo will be shown, 60 seconds per hour 22 times a day.
Option 2: Your 30 second video/photo will be shown, twice an hour, 44 times a day.
Option 3: Your 15 second video/photo will be shown 4 times per hour 88 times per day.
Please let us know which option you would like to choose. Remember that we have a response time of 72 hours.