Did you know that the most famous concert of all time Woodstock, didn’t really happen in Woodstock? It actually took place on Max Yasgur’s farm in the town of Bethel. Most New Yorker’s and Janis Joplin fans know this, but if you really want to learn all about the events surrounding the most amazing musical phenomenon of the 20th century, I suggest a visit to The Museum at Bethel Woods
Below are some of the amazing exhibits on display. If you want to take a trip back in time and experience what being at Woodstock was really like, I can’t recommend this excellent museum highly enough.
Highlights of the Permanent Gallery
Introduction Area — Quotes and performance clips from Woodstock performers and attendees as well as Sixties icons and images serve as an introduction to the themes of The Museum. Their stories are continued throughout the exhibit.
The Sixties — The decade of the 1960s was one of optimism, idealism, cultural change, turmoil, and the coming of age of the Baby Boomers. The election of John F. Kennedy signaled the passing of the torch to a new generation, a generation that, in turn, created new styles, sounds, and attitudes, and challenged traditions.
– Timeline
– Civil Rights and the Rights Revolution
– Space race
– The Cold War Comes Home
– The Counterculture: Retreat and Renewal
The Woodstock Festival is Born/Planning — What inspired four young men to create the largest music festival of all time, why did it take place in Bethel instead of the town it was named for, and what did it take to pull it all together?
The Journey to Woodstock — They came from near and far, by VW Beetle, helicopter, bus and thumb, to take part in an Aquarian Festival. Re-create the journey and get on the bus for a spirited film about the road to Woodstock.
Three Days of Peace and Music — Experience the entire festival, from the audience perspective, in a nine-minute immersive multimedia presentation, explore the festival site through a touch screen interactive, and examine artifacts such as staff T-shirts and the 1969 equivalent of instant messaging.
The Legacies of the 1960s and Woodstock — What Do the Sixties and Woodstock Mean Today? Leave your thoughts, browse other people’s, and hear from personalities of the era as well as contemporaries as they address the lasting impact of the civil rights movement, the protest movement, the movement to care for the environment and much more. Explore music that extends the legacy of Woodstock and the Sixties to today and share your suggestions for additional songs that continue the legacy to the future.