Bethel Woods New York Seeks Personal Stories From 1969 Woodstock

Just a couple hours (or so) to the east of Binghamton, a hillside in the middle of nowhere holds one of rock history's defining moments. That site is where a weekend in August of 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held.

The location of course is now home to the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, where the concert area is neatly preserved, alongside a museum and outdoor concert venue. The entire property is a must-visit, even on non-concert days.

Did you attend the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair? If so, Bethel Woods Center For The Arts would love to hear your story.

Don Morgan

Bethel Woods notes that the average age of a Woodstock Festival attendee is over 75 years old, and unfortunately, the clock is ticking on capturing their stories before they are lost forever.

That's where you can help as Bethel Woods is again taking its Oral History Initiative from upstate New York, across the USA.

The project aims to obtain a deeper understanding of the counterculture of the 1960's by documenting personal experiences. This round of the initiative will focus on stories about peace, resistance, and resilience. Bethel Woods is eager to hear from anyone who may have worked at Woodstock, served as a volunteer, or had interactions with any of the organizations who came to Woodstock to aid with the festival. - Bethel Woods Center For The Arts

According to Bethel Woods, attendees can participate by recording their stories with curators of The Museum at Bethel Woods at the following locations and dates:

Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton, Florida: January 18-20
Orlando, Florida: January 21-23
Tampa, Florida: January 23-25
Boston, Massachusetts: March 11-12
New York City: April 1-3
Santa Fe, New Mexico: April 11-15
San Diego, California: April 22-23
Los Angeles, California: April 24-29
Several Places in New York State in June and July – TBA

At the Museum at Bethel Woods, we have a mission to preserve the lasting impact of Woodstock for years to come, which is why we are dedicated to safeguarding the stories of those who were part of the unique journey. Through the oral history initiative, we began collecting stories that were so much bigger. Our goal in 2024 is to create partnerships and reach into communities that have been historically underserved. We want to record the experiences of as many participants, attendees, workers, and volunteers from the era as we can because we know they are slipping away fast. These narratives are invaluable in shaping and preserving the rich history and legacy of the ‘60s and through these partnerships, our hope is that the stories can be shared through as many outlets, exhibits, and programs as possible. - Dr. Neal V. Hitch, Senior Curator at The Museum at Bethel Woods.

And by the way, Bethel Woods Center For The Arts has once again been nominated for USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers Choice travel awards.

photo courtesy of the Museum at Bethel Woods

The public can vote for their favorite venue (hint, hint: Bethel Woods!) once per day through February 12, 2024, HERE. Last year, Bethel Woods came in 4th place. We can get them higher!