Woody Guthrie Center facts for kids
Exterior of Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District
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| Established | Opened April 27, 2013 |
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| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Type | Biographical museum |
| Architect | KKT Architects |
The Woody Guthrie Center is a special museum and archive in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It celebrates the life and music of Woody Guthrie, a famous American folk musician and songwriter. The Center also keeps important collections from another folk singer and activist, Phil Ochs.
Contents
Exploring the Woody Guthrie Center
The Woody Guthrie Center is located in the Tulsa Arts District. It's a fun, interactive museum for everyone to visit.
What You Can See
Inside, you can see musical instruments that Woody Guthrie used. There are also examples of his original artwork. You can even see his notebooks and song lyrics written in his own hand. The museum has many photographs and historical items. These show his life, his music, and his work for social causes.
Music and Films
Visitors can watch a short film about Woody Guthrie's life. You can also listen to his music. The museum plays songs by other artists too. These artists were inspired by Guthrie's work. The Center often hosts special folk music events.
The Woody Guthrie Archives
The Woody Guthrie Archives are also at the Center. This is the world's largest collection of items about Guthrie's life. These archives are kept safe in a special room. This room controls the temperature and humidity. You can peek into this area through windows from the museum.
What's in the Archives
The archives hold many treasures. These include his writings and song lyrics. There are also letters, artwork, and scrapbooks. You can find music recordings, books, and photographs. Researchers can visit the archives by making an appointment.
History of the Center
The Woody Guthrie Center officially opened its doors on April 27, 2013. Before this, the archives belonged to the Woody Guthrie Foundation. Woody Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie, led this foundation. The George Kaiser Family Foundation, based in Tulsa, later bought the archives.
Other Centers in Tulsa
The George Kaiser Family Foundation also runs another nearby center. This is the Bob Dylan Center. It is also located in the Tulsa Arts District.
Phil Ochs' Collection
In September 2014, Meegan Lee Ochs made an exciting announcement. She decided to donate her father's archives to the Center. Her father was the singer-songwriter Phil Ochs. Phil Ochs was greatly influenced by Woody Guthrie. He was also a traveling musician and worked for social change. This collection is the first from an artist other than Guthrie. It includes notebooks, photos, and videos.
Virtual Reality Dust Bowl Experience
In 2018, the Woody Guthrie Museum introduced a new program. It lets visitors experience the Dust Bowl conditions. This was a time of severe dust storms in the Oklahoma Panhandle. It happened between 1934 and 1938.
How the Experience Works
Visitors wear a virtual reality headset. They sit on a replica of a front porch. They then watch a dust cloud appear. It rolls across the prairie and surrounds them. The Dust Bowl inspired many of Woody Guthrie's songs. It also led him to support migrant workers. These were people who lost their homes and jobs due to the disaster.
See also
- List of music museums
