I listen to a lot of music, so I was obviously aware of Woody Guthrie, but I was not aware of his beginnings and the events - especially his early home life and the Dust Bowl - that shaped and influenced his songwriting. The museum does a magnificent job mixing photos, historical artifacts and technology to tell Guthrie's story, and how he became one of folk music's largest influences. I could write more about it, but I really think it's something you should experience in person. Trust me - it's worth it. I spent around two and one half hours with the exhibits and I could have stayed longer. Make sure you watch the intro video before you start your tour. Then make time to watch the VR presentation about the Dust Bowl. read more

See all

The first time Dan and I went to the Woody Guthrie Center was during a Yelp event. I was so happy that we had the opportunity to take our grandson and our daughter there last Sunday. They loved it as much as we did. I can't wait to take the rest of the grandchildren. This is a well organized museum. The exhibits attract and holds the interest of people of all ages. My 13 year old grandson who like most 13 year olds bores easily with anything that's not a video game or legos, was totally engaged. All of the staff was wonderful, but I was particularly impressed with Sam, who went way beyond what was expected to help us understand Woody Guthrie and that period of history. I am a retired history teacher and I appreciate encountering talented and dedicated teachers whether they are employed in schools or places such as museums. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - My family listening to the talented staff me preparing us for the introduction video. - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Never met a museum we didn't love and the WGC delivers. We learned a whole lot about the legend. Much to think about his life, his poetry, his impact on the world. Do a two-fer with the attached Dylan Museum. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

See all

Great museum dedicated to the life and music of Woody Guthrie. A must-see portion of the center is the virtual reality experience of the Black Sunday 1935 dust storm. It will blow you away. Sam is an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic docent. If he's a paid employee (as opposed to a volunteer) they need to give him a raise. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - View of the gallery. - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Everyone should know about Woody Guthrie. An Okemah OK native who traveled the USA. Folk music is American History. Learned a few things and plan to return with my kids. read more

See all

The story of Woody Guthrie is one that should be told far and wide so that we do not forget what is important in America. This museum captures the life, spirit, and works of a natural born talent that challenge our way of thinking and breaking down the status quo. Yes he is most famously remembered as the author of "this land is your land" And his life was all about giving people hope for a good life no matter how hard it gets. Take a tour here and learn the deeper side of Woody and be inspired by what he stood for and accomplished. Many artists have set their roots in Guthrie and so his influence is subtle but widespread. There is a docent, Sam, that is the most amazing teacher, storyteller, philosopher, entertainer, and champion. Go there to listen to things about Woody that you would not have expected and be prepared to be challenged in your thinking. It was an education for me. read more

See all

The Woody Guthrie museum was extremely interesting. Not only did I learn much about the life of Woody Guthrie, I also learned a great deal about the Dust Bowl and what a significant event it was in the United States. During our visit there was also a special exhibit highlighting the disco era The Woody Guthrie Museum sits immediately adjacent to the Bob Dylan Center. It's incredible to have these two amazing resources right next to each other in the heart of downtown Tulsa. read more

See all

A phenomenal facility in downtown Tulsa, and well worth your visit! I'm a Tulsan who's visited 3 or 4 times, as they host regular new exhibits and cultural offerings. Their permanent collection is amazing and deep, and then they also do 3-month temporary exhibits around broader materials - those temporary exhibits have included tributes to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley and Hip-Hop. It's a modern, cool-looking place, street parking (use the Parkmobile app) and it's in the middle of the arts district, so your visit here can include food, coffe, art galleries etc read more

Paid admission to see the Woody Guthrie Center AND the Bob Dylan Center next door. As we were about to go up the stairs, a supervisor stopped us and told us pets were not allowed. (We had a Chihuahua enclosed in an airline carrier over my shoulder.) I asked for my money back, and he said they also had a no-refund policy. Nothing posted at the door or at the counter about no pets. NOT cool! Street parking was not on the shade, so leaving the dog in the car was not an option. I handed the tickets to my wife, told her to enjoy herself, and left with the dog. One admission for the price of two. read more

This place is like having a religious experience. The first thing that thunder struck me was the portrait of Jimmy LaFave (RIP) in the lobby. I was lucky enough to attend the 2012 concert at Tulsa Theatre so I loved viewing the intro info film and seeing clips from that concert. I would highly advise you take the time to view the film before you tour the rest of the Center. I have visited here before but things have certainly changed since I was last here. There's a lot more inter-activity and a cool VR exhibit. I was short on time this visit so I headed strait to the Bruce Springsteen exhibit. (Another spiritual experience). EVERY SINGLE PERSON WORKING HERE was fantastic and so helpful. It seemed like everyone wanted to show off their workplace and highlight the genius of Woody. There are some pretty great t-shirts in the gift shop. How lucky is Tulsa to have this center steps away from the Dylan Center and not far from The Church? read more

This place is incredible! My husband, son and I learned so much about Woody, his life, music and legacy. Everyone who works there is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. Special shout out to Sam though. He was so fun to talk to about not only Woody's history but life in general. Next time we're in Tulsa, we'll be returning to the Woody Guthrie Center for another visit. read more

Everyone here was so nice. We really enjoyed it. You must try the VR dustbowl thing. The gift shop had a lot of great stuff as well. Really enjoyed the film piece, wish it had been longer. And I was so entranced by the hand written stuff and examples of his art. read more

A great tribute to Woody Guthrie. Interactive museum with lots of information about his life, history of those times and his impact to music. read more

Fun place to visit! Everyone here is so friendly, upbeat, and helpful. We spent around 1.5-2 hours here. The museum is big enough to explore and have a great time in, and small enough to where you don't need to spend a whole day there unless you'd like to listen to all of Woody Guthrie's music... which I definitely wanted to do but my boyfriend had other plans for us too haha. There's a fun, educational short film you can watch on Woody Guthrie's life and his music inspiration. The whole museum was super educational and informing, it was very fun! All over the museum are places with screens and earphones where you can listen to music or have a more in-depth look at a particular aspect. The music bar was my favorite part! There was also a virtual reality area where you could "experience the dust bowl." I loved the technology of this place, it's very nice and easy to understand and it helps you gain the best experience by giving you a lot of information. We also saw an additional little exhibit of John Lee Hooker. It was very fun to learn about him too! read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Awesome little museum and archives of the legendary Woody Guthrie. This is a wonderful interpretation of an American icon. You can see several of his instruments, including a guitar that was discovered in a Seattle thrift shop! read more

We've been here many times since it opened. Special exhibits change periodically and are always interesting. The Woody Guthrie memorabilia is excellent as are the interactive exhibits throughout. There's a great little auditorium where we've seen artists from Arlo Guthrie to Ramblin' Jack Elliott to Jackie Venson. Very nice venue. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and there is a very nice gift shop with great merchandise. It's affiliated with the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and is a good community partner. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Great place! - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Free for teachers! As someone who knew nothing about Woody Guthrie I had a absolute BLAST exploring this museum! I spent about 1 1/2 hours and probably actually read/listened/interacted with 80% of the content. The staff were so friendly and informative. I would highly recommend if you've never been. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Not just a music history, an American history experience. This Land is your lLand should be our national anthem

This museum is amazing. Tons of Americana and totally fits the definition of a hidden gem.

I have wanted to travel to Tulsa and visit the Woody Guthrie Center ever since it opened a few years ago. My visit this past weekend didn't disappoint. The museum is relatively small, but packs a lot into the space. It is more than just a museum to one man, it is a history of the times that gave birth to Woodrow Wilson Guthrie and the events that shaped his music and the people that he inspired to carry on the legacy. There is an entire area just devoted to the Dust Bowl and there was a temporary exhibit about John Denver. Make sure you watch the 15 minute movie before looking around. I would love to work the front desk here, just to greet and meet all of the traveling musicians and activists that must come here to pay respect to the grandfather of the movement. Well done Tulsa! read more

See all

If you're new to who Woody Guthrie is or you're a life-long admirer, you and everyone in between will find something cool at the Woody Guthrie Center. A staple of First Friday Art Crawls and an amazing space for learning and studying all the archival pieces Tulsa has, this is such a gem downtown. I highly recommend first time visitors take the time to watch the films they play in the front of the museum and then work your way a around the center as it roughly details Woody Guthrie's life and work in chronological order. They've done a really nice job of providing context to the events in his life so it's not just a presentation of artifacts, but even that would be cool. You see his instruments, his notes and lyrics, and you get the context of what was happening in the US and abroad as he was writing. As a native Oklahoman/Tulsan, this gave me a new understanding and respect for our heritage and some of the key figures in our history. Highly recommend! read more

This is a gem of a museum. It is well organized and informative. Learned so much about Woody's life and what inspired his music.

Who is Woody Guthrie and why does he have his own Center? I had no idea who he was (don't judge me, I'm a foreigner...) but know I'm a huge fan after visiting the center. Guthrie was a singer/songwriter and folk musician whose musical legacy is amazing. Some of his songs were political. He frequently performed with the slogan "This Machine Kills Fascists" displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is "This Land Is Your Land." Many songwriters (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, among many) say Guthrie was a major influence. The Woody Guthrie Center celebrates his life and legacy and seeks to educate people about his important role in American history. The really cool thing about it is that it has incorporated so much technology that it blows everyone away. Kids are SO interested in checking everything out that they don't even realize how educational the whole process is. I love it! Wish more museums were like this. They also offer space rental, internship opportunities as well as a fellowship, workshops, lesson plans, and lots of cool stuff in their store! read more

@WoodyGuthrieCtr - This Museum Kills Fascists. It's not just a museum, it's a living, breathing center for education, creativity, and the encouragement of the type of activism through artistry that Woody Guthrie made his life's work. Do you know how cool it is, that this place even exists? How hard it would have been for Woody to imagine, when speaking out for the little guy, or presenting economic theories via song, that someday his legacy would lead to a state of the art building in the beating heart center of Tulsa, near his hometown. That in all that dustbowl hardship and Okie grit, and in what I'm sure proved to be some lonely days, traversing the country with little more than a guitar and a head full of thoughts, that all those writings and drawings, paintings and songs, would end up canonized in such a beautiful landmark of a building, bearing his name and ensuring the preservation of his legacy for generations to come. Its probably not even a thought he would have allowed himself to have. No, his humility would probably not have let him, even on his proudest day, imagine that folks young and old would come together to celebrate the man and his words and deeds in such a grand way. But he sure would love to see it, I have no doubt. Everything about the center would make him proud. It's breathtaking, but its actual footprint is very small. A truly multi-genre exhibit to showcase a man who worked in so many different mediums: this story is told through murals, paintings, spoken word, handwritten poems and letters, video, photography, and most importantly through song. A hardworking staff keeps the exhibits fresh and safe, and adds programming and events to help inspire and encourage visitors from all walks of life. A permanent collection is continually rotated so the museum can be different each time you visit. Additionally, institutions from all over the world will lend items to round out the retrospective. The beautiful theatre will prove to be another gift that keeps on giving to this community as it can be used for a bevy of other events that only further Tulsa's rich cultural landscape. It's fun to imagine all the people who will potentially be inspired by this. It is a testament to the difference one person can make and the mark they can leave on a nation, just by expressing themselves by any means available. read more

See all

I'm not a musician but I play one in my head, so I almost lost my mind with excitement when my cousin told me about a whole museum dedicated to one of the greatest, most prolific, song writers in the history of the world. I was surprised (but not really) to learn that he also painted and wrote short stories and novels. Before entering the main part of the museum there is a 13 minute documentary that was made up mostly of interviews with modern musicians. Although I guess I already knew it, it was still quite shocking to see the wide array of performers who were inspired by Mr Guthrie. I got to the museum two hours before closing time, thinking I could easily see everything there was and have time to spare. Boy, was I wrong I could have spent longer than that just listening to all of the recordings, not just the dozen or so versions of This Land is Your Land, but the plethora of ballads and musical poems on file at the Guthrie Center. For me the most awe inspiring part of my two hours there was his life in general. Living through the Dust Bowl, seeing tens or hundreds of thousands of people lose everything was enough to make most people want nothing more than "security"; spouses, children, owing a home, a career, etc. Not Woodrow though, he saw it as a great reason to live free, to experience each and every day to the fullest, to dedicate his life to story telling. I would never compare myself to this legend, but I try to be the same way and with most of society telling me I'm wrong, it's refreshing to see a multi-million dollar building dedicated to a man who would have been 100% on my side. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is an amazing museum. It is very high tech as museums go. The archives are visible behind glass. The movie is informative. The memorabilia is educational and fun. It is clean. There is a revolving exhibit. Right now it is Marty Stewart. There are scavenger hunts for the kids. It is a must see stop in Tulsa. read more

Great exhibit. Short film starts to explain the importance of who WG was and why his work is important. Many original instruments and art. At the time we went, 11/2017, there was a special John Denver exhibit in the back. Just kind of odd to see generic 1970's photos treated like museum pieces. Staff was great! Take it easy but take it! read more

See all

If you want to understand the Oklahoma psyche, you better bust your butt over to the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa. This state-of-the-art museum is a happy, happy place. Opened in April 2013, the brand new Woody Guthrie Center houses the archives of the late, great Woody Guthrie, brought to Oklahoma from New York. True academics can make an appointment to browse the archives and thumb through some of Woody's original writings, paintings, sketches and lyrics. Casual visitors and die-hard fans will go ape for the touch screens and music bar. Start your tour with the 15 minute video on Woody Guthrie's life and legacy. Try to hold back the tears, folks - he's one of the most amazing Americans you ever will see. The video sets the tone for the rest of the museum...do your best to start with that film. The original lyrics of "This Land is Your Land" lie in the center of the space, surrounded by touch screens and headphones so you can listen to a myriad of artists play Woody's most famous song. Follow Woody's life chronologically, listen to his music, learn about the artists he's inspired (umm you can't do any better than serving as the main inspiration to Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan) The Woody Guthrie Center also houses the only permanent exhibit on the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma with a really cool interactive display and video. Zoolander spent one day in the coal mines and came down with the black lung - think about how tough life was for Oklahomans breathing in dust for years! Admission is $8 - and totally worth it. Clean, crisp, and moving to the core, you will want to bring every out of town guest through the doors of the Center. The mural of Woody outside the building, painted by local artist Aaron Whisner, is a staple in the Brady Arts District. Friendly staff can answer questions about the exhibits and there's some killer merchandise from local vendors. Helpful Hint: The Woody Guthrie Center has free admission if you visit during First Fridays in the Brady Arts District (first friday of every month from 6 to 9 pm) Traveling Exhibit: Right now, a raw photo exhibit of Bob Dylan and other folk pioneers graces the halls of the temporary exhibit space, which can also be rented out for parties. Check their website for updated exhibit information read more

The Woody Guthrie Center is a nice, interactive museum wherein you can learn about his life and the times in which he lived, his art (both auditory and visual) and his impact on other performers as well as prevailing American culture. Definitely allow yourself plenty of time to explore. The mistake that I made was that I did not allow myself enough time and they closed before I got to see everything. Since it is not terribly large, I assumed it would be pretty quick to go through. Boy, was I mistaken. read more

Worth every penny of admission. Even though this was not originally on the list of things we needed to do in Tulsa, it ended up being the highlight of our trip. We were glad to get out of the heat, learn much about this incredible artist, and learn a little about ourselves at the same time. Take your time going through and listening to all the booths, there is a lot to learn about Woody! The gift shop is a little pricey, but I don't think that's something I'll remember once the credit card bill is paid. What I'll remember is the music, and his incredible passion! This is a must stop for any music lover. You don't have to be a Midwesterner or country/folk music fan to appreciate what Woody did for our country, music, and society. read more

It was a nice little place I loved all the information given about this artist. So much I didn't know of before read more

See all

Staying at the Hyatt in downtown Tulsa was the best thing that we've done because they recommended the Woody Guthrie Center and some good BBQ restaurants. The weather here is no hot and humid we decided to take in an indoor activity and it was great. They had an exhibit on stage Supremes (yes, the one with Diane Ross, Mary Wilson). The center had so many musical archives and you can experience it through an individual ear phones. It wasn't a huge space but just enough for our 2 hour excursion. read more

See all

Wow! Just wow! I would recommend this museum to anyone visiting Tulsa- or looking for an adventure. The museum is clean, polished, front desk staff is very educated about the history of Tulsa too. Loved the supremes exhibit. We were visiting from Los Angeles and I loved especially the costume selection. read more

See all

The gentleman that was at the desk was so friendly and helpful, the Center is simply amazing and very affordable. Will have to come back the next time in town. It was a great experience. read more

This is a must stop place for any musician or music enthusiast! I went here on a First Friday night which is a cool monthly Tulsa event. It was free on that night but does normally have an admission charge. Even if you have to pay you still need to go, it's worth it. There is a film that is about 15 minutes long that gives you a brief history about Woody Guthrie. The movie was put together by the Grammy Foundation, and features a lot of famous musicians whom were inspired by Guthrie. Throughout the museum there are artifacts from Woody Guthrie. These artifacts include some guitars, original artwork and lyric sheets to the fiddle Guthrie carried with him while serving in WW2. There are lots of photographs of him and some of his protégés. Another part of the museum features some artifacts and information on the Dust Bowl. Definitely stop in for some music history and a little Oklahoma history. read more

Woody Guthrie Center - Cool guitar chandelier - Museums Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is a very cool stop to make in Tulsa. Located in the Brady Arts District, the Woody Guthrie Center has been a long time coming, but was well worth the wait. The footprint is small for a museum, but don't let that fool you. It took us nearly two hours to get around it all and I feel like I could go back and imbibe more. The Bruce Springsteen exhibit was an added bonus and deserving of attention. The archives are well represented in what is on display and the audio-visual elements are abundant. Super nice staff giving generously of their time to visitors and a well-stocked gift shop made this modern museum a pleasure to visit. read more

We traveled all the way from Washington to see this new museum. It is filled with amazing technology and inspired content. What a national treasure Guthrie was. read more

Excellent if you are a history buff, interested in Woody Guthrie, Oklahoma or Dust Bowl history... or music. If you're not... not so much. This is a wonderful museum about Woody Guthrie - his life, music, and influence on other musicians like Pete Seeger or Bruce Springstreen. It's rather small, but wonderfully put together with artifacts and interactive, state-of-the-art exhibits. It's also in Tulsa's growing Urban / hipster area next to some cool restaurants. read more

Wonderful experience! I came all the way from Wisconsin to see this, and I was not disappointed. Includes art, music, history, and even a simulation of the Dust Bowl. I definitely recommend that anyone stopping in Tulsa who appreciates Guthrie, or music in general, make a visit to this museum! read more

Very interesting gallery filled with the memorabilia of Woody Guthrie. His guitars, many many of his doodles, sketches, his quotes, artwork and his original song lyrics. There was also a small tribute exhibit to the Supremes. Glad we went. May go again when they have a special event. read more