Exhibitions in The Museum

Experience the award-winning, multi-media exhibit that takes you through the tumultuous decade that culminated with the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair right here in Bethel, NY.

main exhibit at Bethel Woods Museum

Through varied and engaging special exhibitions, growing collection of artifacts and reference materials, museum programs for children, youth, and adults, and the preserved historic site, the Museum makes the lessons and ideals of the sixties relevant and accessible today.

The Main Exhibit: The Story of Woodstock and the '60s

At 6,728 square feet, The Main Exhibit Gallery holds the permanent exhibit which includes 20 films, five interactive productions, 164 artifacts on display, more than 300 photographic murals, and dozens of interpretive text panels.  Discover the iconic fashion of the 1960s, listen to music from the era, and watch a series of films that bring history to life with original footage featuring the people, stories, sights, and music of the three-day Woodstock Festival. Woodstock: The Music shows, for the first time ever, high-definition footage of the best performances from the Woodstock Music and Art Fair told from the perspective of the performers themselves, as well as contemporary artists from today.

2020 Special Exhibit: Lights, Color, Fashion: Psychedelic Posters and Patterns of 1960s San Francisco

This exhibit showcases a phenomenal ensemble of San Francisco rock posters and fashion from the bombastic years of 1964 to 1972 gathered by collector Gary Westford. Highlights of the exhibit include rock posters by all of the “Big Five” poster artists: Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin, Wes Wilson, Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley. Additional works by a variety of other artists round out the collection and add unique styles and perspectives not often seen. A light show by renowned San Francisco light artist Bill Ham will immerse the senses.

Outdoor Art Exhibition: Earth In Focus: A Celebration of Our Dynamic Planet

2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of Earth Day. To celebrate this anniversary and the strides made in preservation and sustainability, Bethel Woods will adorn its historic grounds with an Earth-focused, large-scale outdoor photography exhibition. This exhibit reminds visitors that the beauty of nature is written in a language we can all understand.

 

Corridor Exhibit Gallery: 3 Days of Peace & Music: The Performers of The Woodstock Festival

Featuring vignettes on each of the 32 groups that performed at Woodstock, this semi-permanent exhibit tells the story of each group pre- and post-Woodstock. From Richie Havens' opening performance to Jimi Hendrix's rousing closing performance, learn how each of the bands left a lasting impact on music and popular culture.

Crocheted Connections: Embracing Bindy

In 1969, the Bindy Bazaar was a marketplace and trail system that acted as the heart of the Woodstock festival. To celebrate this aspect of festival history and bring to life the art, craft, and sense of joy embodied by the Bindy Bazaar and the Festival itself, Bethel Woods presents a large-scale public art installation located in the historical footprint of the Bindy Bazaar Trails.