Bethel Woods - Site of Woodstock

      Traveling to the sight of Woodstock, in Bethel New York was truly astonishing. I went into the experience knowing a vague amount about the actual festival and hadn’t understood its impact on the world. Through my recent learnings in global studies, talking with family and friends (that attended), and additionally through personal research I already started to grasp a better understanding of Woodstock. To get me into the right mindset on the 3 hour and 45 minute bus ride I listened to some of my favorites that had played at Woodstock. This included The Grateful Dead and Crosby Stills & Nash, to name a couple. Right as I walked in, I was lead into the lower level, and into a hallway that showcased artists that played, their setlists, and albums. I felt right “at home” when showing my peers the artists I recognized and vice versa. We then were led into the museum exhibit portion in which I was brought right back to the 60’s and 70’s (that I wasn't around for!), at least the vibe and way I feel the music industry would be. My favorite part of the museum was the decked out and colorfully painted bus, and the film of Woodstock. The film spoke upon the large impact Woodstock had on people and the world but additionally it mentioned Jimi Hendrix’s performance on the Star Spangled Banner, that had a satiric and melancholy twist. Which we had previously talked about in Global studies, specifically why Hendrix chose to play the song the way he did. I believe that the counterculture movement of the 60’s and 70’s aimed to spread love, peace, happiness, equal rights and non-violence. The last part of the tour left us to view the fields in which Woodstock was held, this time showed me how perspective is everything. If I didn't see the small sign dedicated to showcase how this field and space had an impact it would just look like a beautifully trimmed plot of land with a cute peace sign trimmed out of it. But because of the fact that I saw the poster, and used my imagination to picture the shoulder to shoulder people at a 3-day long festival I was mind blown. Not just because of the large impact and significance it held, or the amount of people (around half a million) that were in attendance, but the fact that nothing like it has happened since. This field trip was very enlightening, yet made me jealous that I wasn't alive, or there to witness this life changing event!