Woody Guthrie Center facts for kids
Exterior of Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District
|
|
| Established | Opened April 27, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Type | Biographical museum |
| Architect | KKT Architects |
The Woody Guthrie Center is a museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It celebrates the life and music of Woody Guthrie. He was a famous American folk musician and songwriter.
The Center also keeps important papers and items from another folk singer, Phil Ochs. He was also a social activist, meaning he worked for important causes.
Contents
What You Can See at the Center
The Woody Guthrie Center is located in the Tulsa Arts District. It's a fun place to learn about Woody Guthrie.
Exploring the Museum
Inside the museum, you can see many cool things. There are musical instruments Woody Guthrie used. You can also see his original drawings and notebooks. Look for his song lyrics written in his own hand! Photos and other items show his life, music, and how he tried to make the world better.
You can watch a short film about his life. You can also listen to his music. You'll hear songs from other artists who were inspired by him too. The Center also hosts different 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 Woody Guthrie's life. It's kept in a special room with controlled temperature. You can even see part of it through windows from the museum area!
The archives hold many treasures. These include his writings, song lyrics, letters, artwork, and old scrapbooks. There are also music recordings, books, and photographs. Researchers can visit the archives by making an appointment.
History of the Center
The Woody Guthrie Center first opened its doors on April 27, 2013. Before that, Woody Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie, ran the Woody Guthrie Foundation. This foundation owned all of Woody's important papers and items.
The George Kaiser Foundation, based in Tulsa, bought these archives. They then created the Woody Guthrie Center to share them with everyone.
Phil Ochs' Collection
In September 2014, something new was added to the Center. Meegan Lee Ochs, the daughter of singer-songwriter Phil Ochs, gave her father's archives to the museum.
Phil Ochs was greatly influenced by Woody Guthrie. He was also a "troubadour," which means a traveling singer. He used his music to speak out about social issues. This collection includes his notebooks, photos, videos, and other special items. It was the first collection from an artist other than Woody Guthrie to be included at the Center.
Experience the Dust Bowl in Virtual Reality
In 2018, the Woody Guthrie Center started a new program. Visitors can now experience what the Dust Bowl was like! The Dust Bowl was a time in the 1930s when huge dust storms hit parts of the United States, including Oklahoma.
You put on a virtual reality headset. You sit on a fake front porch. Then, you watch a giant dust cloud appear and surround you. The Dust Bowl was a big inspiration for many of Woody Guthrie's songs. It made him want to help migrant workers and others who were struggling because of this natural disaster.
See also
- List of music museums
