Bethel Woods Museum to Travel Across the US to Collect Woodstock Festival Stories

One of America's most popular music venues is heading on tour to collect pieces of history.

The Museum at Bethel Woods Oral History Initiative

History was made in August 1969 at Yagur's Farm in Bethel, New York. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair welcomed hundreds of thousands to enjoy music in Upstate, New York.

With so many people in attendance, the history of the Woodstock Music Festival can be seen from many different viewpoints. The Museum at Bethel Woods has been working diligently since 2020 collecting and preserving the "stories from the people who know Woodstock best."

They will continue to do so thanks to a grant they received from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The grant will allow The Museum at Bethel Woods to host pop-up events across the United States to collect "unique stories with an overall goal of collecting 4,500 Woodstock stories from the people who attended the festival."

Bethel Woods explains on their website further adding:

That is only 1% of those who found their way to Yasgur’s Farm. Yet this archive will be the most significant collective memory of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair and will be a defining legacy of the Museum.

Earlier this year US Today named the Museum at Bethel Woods one of the 10 Best Music Museums in the United States. Have you ever been?

Share Your Woodstock Music Festival Stories

The Bethel Woods Oral History Initiative will begin traveling in March 2024. Here's where those who attended the original Woodstock Music Festival can share their stories:

March 11-12: Boston, MA
April 1-3: New York City, NY
April 11-15: Santa Fe, NM
April 14-16 or May 3-5 (TBD): Phoenix, AZ
April 19-21: Oneonta, NY
April 22-23: San Diego, CA
April 24-29: Los Angeles, CA
June (TBD): Columbus/Cleaveland, Ohio

Bethel Woods is anticipating large volumes of stories so they share that it's best to make an appointment at upcoming and future popups. Storytellers can make their appointments at BethelWoodsCenter.org.

Bethel Woods History On Display at Another New York Museum

While on a recent road trip, I stopped in Cooperstown, New York with my family to check out the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

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On floor 3 I was drawn to the New York Yankees display with all of the Bronx Bombers World Series wins on display as well as the World Series trophy from their 27th win. But I took a quick glance to the left and saw something familiar.

There was a mention of the Woodstock Music & Arts Festival at Yasgur's Farm around Bethel Woods. The section was dedicated to different events and how many fans attended. Of course, Woodstock had one of the most in attendance with 500,000 fans of peace, love, and music.