For Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

The 1969 Woodstock festival holds a special place in American history. The pivotal cultural and musical event enshrined the values of the counterculture and youth movement as a major force in the national social fabric as societal trends shifted toward global obligations of peace, environmental responsibility, and respect for all. In preparing a thorough cultural landscape report and carrying out specific implementation initiatives, Heritage Landscapes separated fact from fiction, detailing the event landscape. For the findings of this CLR, we aligned the historic investigation to resonant themes of the late 1960s.

• Youth counterculture expressed in lifestyle, music, dress, food, sexual mores, drug use, etc.
• "The Establishment" and opposing anti-establishment, Cold War, Vietnam War, peace demonstrations
• Civil and voting rights struggle of Black Americans and supporters
• Environmental movement, toxins, ecology and Earth Day

Highlighting the importance of the Message Tree, we advised on conservation and preparing new seedlings for replacement. HL worked with the client to prepare spatial marking concepts for the stage, sound towers, fence and performers’ bridge, which are not visible on the site today. Together we rediscovered the Bindy Bazaar landscape character and uses, rebuilding trails and installing interpretation and facsimile signs. At the monument, we aided in simplifying the site, opening field views and detailing a native meadow. The Woodstock CLR proved to be an effective basis for National Register listing as a nationally important site, achieved in 2017. The current site provides improved immersion in this iconic place and event. 

Bindy Bazaar Trails,  Monument Site Upgrade, Stage Area Concept Plans, 2018; Cultural Landscape Report, 2014

Heritage Landscapes Cultural Landscape Report, Stage Area Studies, Monument Site Upgrade, Bindy Bazaar Trail Restoration with Binghamton University Archeology Lab