Woody Guthrie Center

What is Woody Guthrie Center?

The center combines two things: galleries for visitors and an archive for researchers. The museum side tells the story of Guthrie himself, the folk musician and songwriter, and of the mark he left on American music. The archive side is there for study, so the collection is meant to be researched as well as seen.

A second collection makes the place more than a single-artist shrine. The archives of Phil Ochs, a folk singer and songwriter who shared Guthrie's interest in social causes, are kept here too. Fans of folk music and protest songs will find both names under one roof.

History of Woody Guthrie Center

Records give 2013 as the year the center was founded, which makes it one of the newer museums in Tulsa. Its downtown setting puts it within walking distance of another music museum, so the two make a natural pair.

Visiting Woody Guthrie Center: tips

Allow about an hour, more if you like to read every label and linger over the displays. It is not free to visit. Restrooms are on site, parking is available, it is listed as wheelchair accessible and it is considered kid-friendly.

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is only about 0.2 miles away, close enough to walk. The Outsiders House Museum is about 1.3 miles off, and the Cities Service Station No. 8 is about 1.6 miles away. A restaurant and a hotel are both within a block or so.