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Inspiring, educating and empowering through the arts and humanities.
In a time when Americans were deeply divided on everything from traditional societal structures to foreign wars, three days of peace and music seemed to be exactly what the world needed.
On August 15, 1969, one of the most celebrated music festivals in history took place in a field in Bethel, NY. What followed was beyond anything anyone could have predicted. The cultural phenomenon no one foresaw transformed an ordinary field into a historic landmark where legendary performers played to more than 450,000 people. Unimaginable mud and unforgettable moments transformed Woodstock Music and Art Fair into a cultural rallying cry for an entire generation.
Woodstock took place in New York State just north of NYC.
The Woodstock festival took place in the town of Bethel, NY. It was originally scheduled to take place in Woodstock, NY, but the location had to be changed. The organizers of the music festival kept the Woodstock name, however.
The original Woodstock festival was held in 1969. There have been other anniversary festivals throughout the years, but the original was in 1969.
The Woodstock music festival began on Friday, August 15, 1969. It continued almost non-stop until Monday, August 18, 1969. The festival was supposed to end on Sunday, August 17th; however, due to multiple delays throughout the weekend, the final performance took place at 9:00 AM on Monday.
The first song played at Woodstock was "From the Prison", performed by Richie Havens on Friday, August 15, 1969.
The final performer at Woodstock was Jimi Hendrix, perhaps one of the most recognized performances of the entire festival. He played for a crowd of 35,000 - 40,000 (most festival-goers had already gone home by that time) on Monday, August 18, 1969, at 9:00 AM.
Of the 32 performances that took place at Woodstock, 13 performances were individual artists. They included:
Of the 32 performances that took place at Woodstock, 19 of them were bands. They included:
Although there is no official count for the number of people who attended the historic music event, it is estimated that nearly 500,000 people were present at Woodstock '69 over the course of the 4-day festival.
While the festival eventually became a "free concert" due to the unexpected crowds, the tickets that were sold were $18 in advance and $24 at the gate (these prices are equivalent to about $120 and $160 today).
In 2018, The Museum at Bethel Woods launched an online archive of photographs and videos collected from nearly 30 contributors– all bringing new life and context to the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair. The photographs capture candid moments from before, during and after the festival, each providing a glimpse into the everyday moments of the festival. The archive captures and preserves the joyous experiences of festival attendees – as well as the less-than-perfect aspects like the mud and the traffic jams on rural country roads.
Yes, the site of the Woodstock music festival was added to the National Register of Historic Places in June 2017. The recognition allows for the continued preservation and protection of the site of one of the world's most iconic music festival.
Yes, visitors are welcome to view the Woodstock monument and walk the grounds of the historic music festival when visiting Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Yes, there are a few Woodstock museums. However, the official Woodstock museum at the site of the original festival can be found at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Yes, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is on the grounds of the original 1969 Woodstock festival. The festival was originally slated to happen in Woodstock, NY, hence the name; however, due to permit changes, the organizers of the festival moved it to Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, NY, where Bethel Woods Center for the Arts now resides.
If you or a relative attended the Woodstock music festival and would like to join our Alumni Registry, please fill out and submit our survey! Peace, Love, & Music!
Think you know the story? Get ready for your visit to The Museum at Bethel Woods with these Festival Facts.
