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 It
was the summer of ‘69. The
dates were the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of August, and the headlines read
“They've Never Seen Nothin' Like This” and “Traffic Uptight at
Hippiefest”. The focus was
on the small town of Bethel, New York, the farm of Max Yasgur, and a
festival promoted as “3 Days of Peace & Music”.
What was originally developed as a venture to raise funds for a
recording studio in Woodstock NY, transpired into a spectacular historic
event of unparallel social and cultural meanings.
History was made that weekend in 1969.
It was a watershed event that defined a generation, and is known
universally, as “Woodstock”.
Over
400,000 people converged on Yasgur’s Farm that weekend, with traffic
tie-ups preventing the estimated million from ever arriving. Through
situation and circumstance, a crowd comprised mainly of middle class
youth, was able to endure the conditions through the counterculture’s
practices of caring and sharing of all available resources.
The “Woodstock Generation Spirit” of activism, equity,
community, ecology, balance and a desire for a better world played out
those days in “the garden“, and during one of the most tumultuous
times in our history, there existed a moment where “peace“ prevailed.
 “Woodstock”
and “Yasgur's Farm” have since remained iconic images for peace and
common struggle, and the site where that historic event took place is
regarded as a monument - a global landmark.
The magnificence of the open and free, pastural setting was forever
made part of our cultural imagery through Michael Wadleigh’s
documentary, and each year, thousands of visitors from around the world,
make the pilgrimage back to “the garden”, to stand witness to where at
all happened.
The
Woodstock Site, in its original, undeveloped state, is important as it is
a tangible reminder of the cultural, historical, and socially significant
event that occurred there in 1969. Although
the event has been analyzed and debated numerous times, the site has come
to symbolize the social and political climate of the late 1960's - the
divisiveness of the United States over issues such as the Viet Nam War,
civil rights, sexual liberation, freedom of speech, and personal
expression - and for years to follow, those who made the journey to
Yasgur’s Farm to reminisce, reflect, imagine, wonder or dream, were
welcomed by the majestic freedom of that open field.
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The
Woodstock Site has always brought about an agenda for controversy, now
compounded by the sale of this land, change came very pronounced in 1996.
Police blockades prevented entrance to the site and what was once
privileged, was now restricted. The
Woodstock
Nation Foundation challenged the legality of the deed in 1997, and
defended the public’s easement and right to continue free assembly on
the site. The once known freedom of the open field was now compromised
by fencing, concrete barriers, visiting hours and security patrols, and
these actions initiated the and historical values of that land.
By 1998, an assembly of people had grown out of concern and
opposition to what was taking place in Bethel. This group, known as The
Friends of Yasgur’s Farm, stood on a foundation of beliefs
regarding the perpetuation of
the Woodstock spirit. In
October 2000, a “grass roots” organization was brought to life by a
few individuals who saw the need to protect this historic land and The
Woodstock Preservation Alliance was born out of the love and
respect for one of the most extraordinary happenings of the 20th century.
Their mission was to preserve the Woodstock site as an open field,
where all would be welcome for generations to come, and they paved the way
for the efforts that followed. The spring of 2002 brought with it plans for the construction
of the of the performing arts center, and also an evolution in the
preservation efforts. An
advanced historical preservation campaign emerged - informed, pro-active
and well-defined. With the
Woodstock Site deemed eligible for the National Register, and federal
funds pledged in support of this project, the Historical Preservationists
launched a most compelling cause for the historic preservation of the 1969
Woodstock festival site. The
commitment to history, and dedication to the preservation of a global
landmark spanned over two years, and is documented within this website.
Why
should anyone care?
Because
people’s values and beliefs are often represented through the tangible
things we possess and keep - mementos and symbols.
We have battlefields to reflect on the cruelty and aggressiveness
of mankind. Our walled
memorials, printed with names, allow us to reflect on sacrifice.
The memorial to 9-11, will allow us to reflect on terror and
horrible injustice. But where
is the place to reflect on peace? Where is the place to reflect on the ideals that unity is
better than divisiveness? Where
is the place to celebrate hope? It’s
in nature. In a pasture. Something not man-made and with no need for intervention or
modification. It already
exists on the Woodstock Site.
And
with the state of the world we share today, we could all use a moment of
“Woodstock.”
*For
more detailed information, please see our nomination application for the NTHP’s
11 Most Endangered Places for 2003.
For a journey through the Woodstock Festival, please
visit Woodstock69.com
woodstock69.com
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