Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK

Posted byChristi IfferganPosted inOklahomaTags:, ,

I had a rainy day this past weekend, so I decided to head out to explore. I wound up in downtown Tulsa at the Woody Guthrie Center.

This is a borrowed image from someone who visited on a much nicer day.

I had a blast here and it started with the great staff. These gentlemen made my visit & I wish everyone were as welcoming.

The museum is small but filled with exhibits about Woody Guthrie, the Dust Bowl and a special gallery honoring the women of country music.

There were several sit-down stations with interactive videos & headphones chronicling Woody Guthrie’s life. Most people know Woody Guthrie for his songs; however, he was also a talented artist and author.

Some Woody Guthrie trivia:

  • Woody’s full name is Woodrow Wilson Guthrie.
  • Woody Guthrie’s father was likely a member of the KKK.
  • He experienced loss several times due to fires:
    • His sister died in a house fire at age 6.
    • His father was seriously injured in a house fire.
    • One of Woody’s daughters died at age 4 from injuries in an apartment fire.
  • Woody wrote a newspaper column called “Woody Sez.”
  • He wrote more than 3,000 songs.
  • Woody contracted the same illness that took his mother: Huntington’s disease. He spent most of his last 13 years in a hospital.
Known for his opposition to fascism, in the early 1940s Woody painted the now-famous phrase “this machine kills fascists” on his guitar, consequently inspiring many artists who came after him. He continued writing the phrase on his guitars after the end of World War II, because he still felt the threat from fascists who would oppress the rights of the people.
Some of Woody’s art
Painting by Woody

“Woody never “made it big” during his lifetime. His goal wasn’t personal wealth but to remain true to his ideals and work for the people. He walked away from many good jobs because someone in the corporate hierarchy tried to control what he said.”

“Woody’s message continues to change the world as he inspires a new generation of artists and activists to take a stand. Without contemporary forms of communication, the bards brought stories to people. That’s what Woody did.

He spoke up for the Dust Bowl migrants, bringing attention to their plight in a way that the listeners to his radio show, The Woody and Lefty Lou Show, were able to understand. He traveled with his African American friends and fellow musicians, breaking a color barrier during a time when that wasn’t readily acceptable. Woody was fearless and always ready to fight for those who needed help.

Woody’s empathy allowed him to insert himself into the stories of others, and he shared those narratives through music, prose, and artwork. He often wrote “I ain’t dead yet.” We feel his presence and see his influence when people everywhere speak out for those who need a voice and shine a light on injustice in our world.”

If you visit Tulsa, make time to stop at the Woody Guthrie Center.

Published by Christi Iffergan

Hi! I am Christi, a full-time RV traveller since August 2021. I have always loved to travel, but COVID-19 put a stop to that. I was fast approaching 50, my condo was being placed up for sale and I was ready for a major change. Originally from a tiny town in rural Southwest Virginia, I am the mother to one son and a rescue Shih Tzu, Cappy. For the last 20 years, I worked in public library systems around the Charlotte & Myrtle Beach areas. I met some amazing people and made great friends along the way. Follow along on my adventures as I travel the US. I hope that our paths will cross one day!

7 thoughts on “Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK”

  2. After reading this post, I will definitely put it on the agenda of places to visit. I did not realize what a good human being he was – not that I know that much about Woody Guthrie. Thank you for this post.

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  3. Christi, I’m so glad that you’re living your dream of traveling and sharing your experiences with others. Your tour of The Woody Guthrie Center was obviously a really great experience for you. By the way, if you liked what you learned and the music of Woody Guthrie, you might want to take a listen to some Pete Seeger music. I understand that Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie were good friends and even performed together. Pete also know Woody Guthries son, Arlo Guthrie who sang Folk and Protest songs. You may remember “City of New Orleans” and/or “Alices Restaurant” and others. I’m sure that you can get them on Youtube if you’d like. Anyway, I’m really happy for you and what you’re experiencing during your travels.

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    1. Thanks so much for your post! I love Pete Seeger, too. We had a performer at the library named Adam Miller who did a music program influenced by Woody Guthrie. He was a singer, musician & storyteller. He made Woody Guthrie come alive and the center just reinforced what a talented, amazing man Woody Guthrie was. They did have some items from Arlo Guthrie, too.

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  4. That was so interesting. Thank you. I knew of his folk songs, but not that he wrote over 3000 songs, or that he was an artist and author. In 1978 I did see Pete Seeger, when I was teaching, at our regional high school. He played his Puff The Magic Dragon ,along with others, and This land is My Land as a tribute to Woody .

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