Historians Explore Memories and Myth for The Museum at Bethel Woods
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 4 -- For more than two years, History
Associates historians have been working to develop exhibits for a new
museum located at the site of the August 1969 Woodstock music festival.
Opening this week, The Museum at Bethel Woods examines the meaning and
significance of the festival as a defining moment for the turbulent decade
that helped shape modern America.
History Associates helped develop the museum storyline, wrote label
text, and collected hundreds of historical images. They also wrestled with
the challenging task of trying to document an event that has become an
iconic part of America's cultural landscape -- an event where memories and
myth have become inescapably interwoven.
James H. Lide, vice president of History Associates, described the
challenge: "Over the years, what actually happened at Woodstock has become
obscured as memories have faded and stories get retold countless times. Our
historians sought out a variety of original sources ranging from
contemporary news articles to materials from local residents, and even
State of New York Health Department memorandums." The museum offers
visitors the chance to learn both about the reality of the festival and its
symbolic importance to a generation.
History Associates worked alongside a group of designers, filmmakers,
interactive developers, and the museum's in-house team to create one of the
country's most intriguing new institutions. Designed by Gallagher &
Associates, the museum uses interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations
with never-before-seen footage, personal stories, and artifacts to provide
an unparalleled look at one of the culminating events of a decade.
The Museum at Bethel Woods is an integral part of the larger Bethel
Woods Center for the Arts, a $100 million outdoor complex dedicated to
bringing diverse performing arts and educational programs to the region.
For more information on The Museum at Bethel Woods, please visit
http://www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.
Employing a staff of nearly fifty historians and archivists, History
Associates provides professional historical research, writing, exhibit
content, archives, and records management services to clients throughout
the United States and around the world. History Associates serves clients
from its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, with an office in Brea,
California. History Associates strives to be The Best Company in
History(R). For more information, call (301) 279-9697 or visit
http://www.historyassociates.com.
Contact: Jason Gart
E-mail: jgart@historyassociates.com
Telephone: (301) 279-9697
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