November 4, 2018
It's not, perhaps, surprising that the Woody Guthrie Center and Archives is in Oklahoma, but it took years for that to happen. It's safe to say that he was not (and is not) as universally popular in his home state as you might expect--particularly being the man who wrote "Oklahoma Hills."
Oklahoma
The museum is in the old Brady Theater district of Tulsa, which has been revitalized and restored into a vibrant area that includes people living here.
Today's signboard in the lobby.
The theater is playing a short summary of his life and works. I'd assume that this same theater is also used for guest performers and speakers.
The dustbowl is integral to his life, so there's an exhibit that covers what happened (and why). This reconstructed old farmhouse is part of a Virtual Reality program; put the headset on and wait for the show to begin. It's quite remarkable; a realistic dust storm will blow in while you look out over the prairie. Occasionally an animal (rabbit) will run by. Look up; look down; you're sitting on the porch someplace out in Oklahoma.
It's a modern building with all the latest multi-media exhibits, but, they're all done with a purpose. The listening stations on the left (below) cover each stage of his life.
As long as he could, he drew and wrote and played music every day of his life.
The archives contain the enormous amount of material that he created and gathered. He wrote thousands and thousands of songs.
It was Huntington's Disease that he died from. His symptoms were misdiagnosed as alcoholism and schizophrenia and more. Through the foundation in his name, progress has been made in understanding this genetic disease.
