History of the Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 Updated August 29, 2016. What Was Woodstock? The Woodstock Festival was a three-day concert (which rolled into a fourth day) that involved lots of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll - plus a lot of mud. The Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 has become an icon of the 1960s hippie counterculture. Dates: August 15-18, 1969 Location: Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the town of Bethel (outside of White Lake, New York) Also Known As: Woodstock Music Festival; An Aquarian Exposition: Three Days of Peace and Music The Organizers of Woodstock The organizers of the Woodstock Festival were four young men: John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfeld, and Mike Lang. The oldest of the four was only 27 years old at the time of the Woodstock Festival. Roberts, an heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, and his friend Rosenman were looking for a way to use Roberts' money to invest in an idea that would make them even more money.

After placing an ad in The New York Times that stated: "Young men with unlimited capital looking for interesting, legitimate investment opportunities and business propositions," they met Kornfeld and Lang. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance The Plan for the Woodstock Festival Kornfeld and Lang's original proposal was to build a recording studio and a retreat for rock musicians up in Woodstock, New York (where Bob Dylan and other musicians already lived). The idea morphed into creating a two-day rock concert for 50,000 people with the hope that the concert would raise enough money to pay for the studio. The four young men then got to work on organizing a large music festival. They found a location for the event up in an industrial park in nearby Wallkill, New York. They printed tickets ($7 for one day, $13 for two days, and $18 for three days), which could be purchased in select stores or via mail order. The men also worked on organizing food, signing musicians, and hiring security. Things Go Very Wrong The first of many things to go wrong with the Woodstock Festival was the location.

No matter how the young men and their lawyers spun it, the citizens of Wallkill did not want a bunch of drugged-out hippies descending on their town. After much wrangling, the town of Wallkill passed a law on July 2, 1969 that effectively banned the concert from their vicinity. Everyone involved with the Woodstock Festival panicked. Stores refused to sell any more tickets and the negotiations with the musicians got shaky. Only a month-and-a half before the Woodstock Festival was to begin, a new location had to be found. Luckily, in mid-July, before too many people began demanding refunds for their pre-purchased tickets, Max Yasgur offered up his 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York for the location for the Woodstock Festival. As lucky as they were to have found a new location, the last minute change of venue seriously set back the Festival timeline. New contracts to rent the dairy farm and surrounding areas had to be drawn up and permits to allow the Woodstock Festival in the town had to be acquired. Construction of the stage, a performers' pavilion, parking lots, concession stands, and a children's playground all got a late start and barely got finished in time for the event.

Some things, like ticket booths and gates, did not get finished in time. As the date got closer, more problems sprung up. It soon appeared that their 50,000 people estimate was way too low and the new estimate jumped to upwards of 200,000 people. The young men then tried to bring in more toilets, more water, and more food. However, the food concessionaires kept threatening to cancel at the last minute (the organizers had accidentally hired people who had no experience in concessions) so they had to worry about whether or not they could airlift in rice as a backup food supply. Also troublesome was the last-minute ban on off-duty police officers from working at the Woodstock Festival. Hundreds of Thousands Arrive at the Woodstock Festival On Wednesday, August 13 (two days before the Festival was to begin), there were already approximately 50,000 people camping near the stage. These early arrivals had walked right through the huge gaps in the fence where the gates had not yet been placed.

Since there was no way to get the 50,000 people to leave the area in order to pay for tickets and there was no time to erect the numerous gates to prevent even more people from just walking in, the organizers were forced to make the event a free concert. This declaration of a free concert had two dire effects. The first of which was that the organizers were going to lose massive amounts of money by putting on this event. The second effect was that as news spread that it was now a free concert, an estimated one million people headed to Bethel, New York. Police had to turn away thousands of cars. It is estimated that about 500,000 people actually made it to the Woodstock Festival. No one had planned for half a million people. The highways in the area literally became parking lots as people abandoned their cars in the middle of the street and just walked the final distance to the Woodstock Festival. Traffic was so bad that the organizers had to hire helicopters to shuttle the performers from their hotels to the stage. The Music Starts Despite all the organizers' troubles, the Woodstock Festival got started nearly on time.

On Friday evening, August 15, Richie Havens got up on stage and officially started the Festival. Sweetwater, Joan Baez , and other folk artists also played Friday night. The music started up again shortly after noon on Saturday with Quill and continued non-stop until Sunday morning around 9 am. The day of psychedelic bands continued with such musicians as Santana , Janis Joplin , Grateful Dead , and The Who, to name just a few. It was obvious to everyone that on Sunday, the Woodstock Festival was winding down. Most of the crowd left throughout the day, leaving about 150,000 people on Sunday night. When Jimi Hendrix , the last musician to play at Woodstock, finished his set early on Monday morning, the crowd was down to only 25,000. Despite the 30-minute lines for water and at least hour-long wait to use a toilet, the Woodstock Festival was a huge success. There were a lot of drugs, a lot of sex and nudity, and a lot of mud (created by the rain). After the Woodstock Festival The organizers of Woodstock were dazed at the end of the Woodstock Festival.

They didn't have time to focus on the fact that they had created the most popular music event in history, for they first had to deal with their incredible debt (over $1 million) and the 70 lawsuits that had been filed against them. To their great relief, the film of the Woodstock Festival turned into a hit movie and the profits from the movie covered a large chunk of the debt from the Festival. By the time that everything was paid off, they were still $100,000 in debt. THE AQUARIAN MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 3 DAYS OF PEACE & MUSIC It was the summer of 69. The dates were the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th of August, and the headlines read They've Never Seen Nothin' Like This and Traffic Uptight at Hippiefest. The focus was on the small town of Bethel, New York, the farm of Max Yasgur, and a festival promoted as 3 Days of Peace & Music.

What was originally developed as a venture to raise funds for a recording studio in Woodstock NY, transpired into a spectacular historic event of unparallel s ocial and cultural meanings. History was made that weekend in 1969. It was a watershed event that defined a generation, and is known universally, as Woodstock. Over 400,000 people converged on Yasgurs Farm that weekend, with traffic tie-ups preventing the estimated million from ever arriving. Through situation and circumstance, a crowd comprised mainly of middle class youth, was able to endure the conditions through the countercultures practices of caring and sharing of all available resources. The Woodstock Generation Spirit of activism, equity, community, ecology, balance and a desire for a better world played out those days in the garden, and during one of the most tumultuous times in our history, there existed a moment where peace prevailed. Woodstock and Yasgur's Farm have since remained iconic images for peace and common struggle, and the site where that historic event took place is regarded as a monument - a global landmark.

The magnificence of the open and free, pastural setting was forever made part of our cultural imagery through Michael Wadleighs documentary, and each year, thousands of visitors from around the world, make the pilgrimage back to the garden, to stand witness to where at all happened. The Woodstock Site, in its original, undeveloped state, is important as it is a tangible reminder of the cultural, historical, and socially significant event that occurred there in 1969. Although the event has been analyzed and debated numerous times, the site has come to symbolize the social and political climate of the late 1960's - the divisiveness of the United States over issues such as the Viet Nam War, civil rights, sexual liberation, freedom of speech, and personal expression - and for years to follow, those who made the journey to Yasgurs Farm to reminisce, reflect, imagine, wonder or dream, were welcomed by the majestic freedom of that open field. The Woodstock Site has always brought about an agenda for controversy, now compounded by the sale of this land, change came very pronounced in 1996. Police blockades prevented entrance to the site and what was once privileged, was now restricted.

The Woodstock Nation Foundation challenged the legality of the deed in 1997, and defended the publics easement and right to continue free assembly on the site. The once known freedom of the open field was now compromised by fencing, concrete barriers, visiting hours and security patrols, and these actions initiated the and historical values of that land. By 1998, an assembly of people had grown out of concern and opposition to what was taking place in Bethel. This group, known as The Friends of Yasgurs Farm, stood on a foundation of beliefs regarding the perpetuation of the Woodstock spirit. In October 2000, a grass roots organization was brought to life by a few individuals who saw the need to protect this historic land and The Woodstock Preservation Alliance was born out of the love and respect for one of the most extraordinary happenings of the 20th century. Their mission was to preserve the Woodstock site as an open field, where all would be welcome for generations to come, and they paved the way for the efforts that followed. The spring of 2002 brought with it plans for the construction of the of the performing arts center, and also an evolution in the preservation efforts.

An advanced historical preservation campaign emerged - informed, pro-active and well-defined. With the Woodstock Site deemed eligible for the National Register, and federal funds pledged in support of this project, the Historical Preservationists launched a most compelling cause for the historic preservation of the 1969 Woodstock festival site. The commitment to history, and dedication to the preservation of a global landmark spanned over two years, and is documented within this website. Why should anyone care? Because peoples values and beliefs are often represented through the tangible things we possess and keep - mementos and symbols. We have battlefields to reflect on the cruelty and aggressiveness of mankind. Our walled memorials, printed with names, allow us to reflect on sacrifice. The memorial to 9-11, will allow us to reflect on terror and horrible injustice. But where is the place to reflect on peace? Where is the place to reflect on the ideals that unity is better than divisiveness? Where is the place to celebrate hope? Its in nature. In a pasture. Something not man-made and with no need for intervention or modification. It already exists on the Woodstock Site. And with the state of the world we share today, we could all use a moment of Woodstock.

Yasgur Road Productions Yasgur Road Productions to Yasgurs Farm. Welcome Home Welcome to Yasgur Road Productions. Our mission is to commemorate the miracle that took place in Bethel, NY in August of 1969. We are producing music, art, artistic events and forums for political activism at the former home and farm of Max and Miriam Yasgur. We are dedicated to the support and perpetuation of freedom, Education, Nonviolence, Environmental Awareness, Independance and Spiritual and Artistic Advancement. We will provide a welcome home for the anniversary of the historic Woodstock Concert every third weekend in August in order to ensure the right of freedom of assembly for all citizens of all nations. Map of the Woodstock Festival | Second Story Map of the Woodstock Festival Map of the Woodstock Festival Project Group Museum at Bethel Woods, Bethel, NY Exhibition Design Timelines & maps An interactive, birds-eye view of Max Yasgur’s farm allows groups of visitors to explore the events that unfolded at the Woodstock Festival over three days.

A 6-foot, circular interactive map table recreates the setting and location of Woodstock using a 3-minute time-lapse video animation of the festival; the video combines satellite imagery, altered to capture the 1969 landscape, with detailed animations of the fluctuating weather and crowds over time, all set to an ambient audio soundtrack. Up to six visitors at a time can use interactive stations along the perimeter of the table to explore the fluctuating landscape. With touch screens that serve as track pads, visitors can select every notable location on the festival grounds and discover, through narration, images, videos, and text, what took place over those three eventful days. As returning festival attendees bring more stories back to Bethel, the museum staff has the ability to add additional content to the table through a robust content management system.

Press & Awards Themed Entertainment Association Thea Awards, Museum, 2009 Print Magazine, Creativity & Commerce, Honorable Mention 2009 “The Woodstock Culture: A New Museum Examines the 1969 Festival and Its Times,” The Morning Call, Tim Blangger, June 8, 2008 At another display, a floor console offers a bird’s-eye view of the festival grounds with a continuously looping computer animation of the weather for the three-day festival, including the infamous rain storm that briefly halted performances. “The Woodstock Museum: Because You Weren’t There,” The Village Voice, Elena Oumano, June 3, 2008 A rear-projected animated map of the festival site allows six people at a time to call up a wealth of festival information. “Museum Opens at Woodstock Concert Site,” Associated Press, Michael Hill, June 2, 2008 But this is a 21st century museum dominated by sounds and moving images. It’s hard to find a spot where you can’t overhear a crowd chant or a guitar solo pumping from one exhibit or another.

There are five interactive exhibits and 20 films playing here, from kiosk shorts to the 50-foot high, wraparound movie that provides a you-are-there version of the concert. “Taking in the Woodstock Museum,” Time Magazine, Richard Lacayo, May 29, 2008 And the museum itself? It’s entertaining and briskly informative...if you visit the museum, which I recommend, here’s what I would do: play with the interactive screens, admire the replica hippie bus, watch the film clips of Jimi Hendrix and Joan Baez and the Who. Credits The History Place - This Month in History: August August 5 Return to Top of Page August 5, 1583 - The first British colony in North America was founded by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a British navigator and explorer. He sighted the Newfoundland coast and took possession of the area around St. John's harbor in the name of the Queen. He was later lost at sea in a storm off the Azores on his return trip to England.

August 5, 1861 - President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the first Federal income tax, a 3 percent tax on incomes over $800, as an emergency wartime measure during the Civil War . However, the tax was never actually put into effect. August 5, 1962 - Film star Marilyn Monroe died at age 36 from an overdose of sleeping pills. She made 29 films during her career and came to symbolize Hollywood glamour. August 5, 2011 - Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency downgraded the United States debt from its highest rating of AAA to a lesser AA+ rating, marking the first-ever decline of credit worthiness for the U.S. The agency cited America’s $14 trillion in outstanding debt and ineffective political leadership regarding debt reduction. Birthday - John Eliot (1604-1690) was born in Hertfordshire, England. Known as the "Apostle to the Indians," his translation of the Bible into an Indian tongue was the first Bible to be printed in America. August 6 August 6-10, 1787 - The Great Debate occurred during the Constitutional Convention.

Outcomes included the establishment of a four-year term of office for the President, granting Congress the right to regulate foreign trade and interstate commerce, and the appointment of a committee to prepare a final draft of the Constitution. August 6, 1945 - The first Atomic Bomb was dropped over the center of Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m., by the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay. The bomb detonated about 1,800 ft. above ground, killing over 105,000 persons and destroying the city . Another estimated 100,000 persons later died as a result of radiation effects . August 6, 1962 - Jamaica achieved independence after centuries of British and Spanish rule. During 150 years of Spanish rule, African slaves were first brought to the island. The British invaded in 1655 and the slave trade greatly expanded during the 1700s. Following the abolition of slavery in the 1830s, Jamaica remained a British colony. August 6, 1965 - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson .

The Act suspended literacy, knowledge and character tests designed to keep African Americans from voting in the South. It also authorized the appointment of Federal voting examiners and barred discriminatory poll taxes. The Act was renewed by Congress in 1975, 1984 and 1991. Birthday - British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England. He was appointed Poet Laureate in succession to William Wordsworth. Memorable poems by Tennyson include Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington and The Charge of the Light Brigade . Birthday - Penicillin discoverer Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) was born in Lochfield, Scotland. By accident, he found that mold from soil killed deadly bacteria without injuring human tissue. He received the Nobel Prize in 1954. August 7 August 7, 1964 - Following an attack on two U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam, the U.S. Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Lyndon B.

Johnson authority "to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." August 7, 1990 - Just five days after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, President George Bush ordered Desert Shield, a massive military buildup to prevent further Iraqi advances. Birthday - International spy Mata Hari (1876-1917) was born (as Margaret Gertrude Zelle) in Leewarden, Netherlands. Arrested by the French in 1917 as a German spy, she was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. At her execution, she refused a blindfold and instead threw a kiss to the French firing squad. Birthday - African American statesman and Nobel Prize recipient Ralph J. Bunche (1904-1971) was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1949, as a mediator for the United Nations, he helped bring an end to hostilities in the war between Israel and the Arab League. August 8 August 8, 1945 - Soviet Russia declared war on Japan and sent troops into Japanese-held Manchuria.

Birthday - African American explorer Matthew Henson (1866-1955) was born in Charles County, Maryland. He accompanied Robert E. Peary on several Arctic expeditions and reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909. August 9 August 9, 1945 - The second Atomic bombing of Japan occurred as an American B-29 bomber headed for the city of Kokura, but because of poor visibility then chose a secondary target, Nagasaki. About noon, the bomb detonated killing an estimated 70,000 persons and destroying about half the city. August 9, 1974 - Effective at noon, Richard M. Nixon resigned the presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal. Nixon had appeared on television the night before and announced his decision to the American people. Facing possible impeachment by Congress, he became the only U.S. President ever to resign. Birthday - Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) the 31st U.S. President was born in West Branch, Iowa. He was the first President born west of the Mississippi.

August 11 August 11, 1841 - Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, spoke before an audience in the North for the first time. During an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, he gave a powerful, emotional account of his life as a slave. He was immediately asked to become a full-time lecturer for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. August 11-16, 1965 - Six days of riots began in the Watts area of Los Angeles, triggered by an incident between a white member of the California Highway Patrol and an African American motorist. Thirty-four deaths were reported and more than 3,000 people were arrested. Damage to property was listed at $40 million. Birthday - Roots author Alex Haley (1921-1992) was born in Ithaca, New York. His Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, published in 1976, explored seven generations of his family from its origins in Africa through slavery in America and eventual hard-fought freedom.

Roots was translated into 37 languages and also became an eight-part TV miniseries in 1977 which attracted a record American audience and raised awareness concerning the legacy of slavery. August 12 August 12, 1676 - King Philip's War ended with the assassination of Metacom, leader of the Pokanokets, a tribe within the Wampanoag Indian Federation. Nicknamed 'King Philip' by colonists, he led a Native American uprising against white settlers which resulted in a war that raged for nearly two years, now known as King Philip's War. Birthday - Film pioneer Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts. He produced over 70 major films including Cleopatra, The Ten Commandments, and The Greatest Show on Earth. August 13 August 13, 1961 - The Berlin Wall came into existence after the East German government closed the border between east and west sectors of Berlin with barbed wire to discourage emigration to the West.

The barbed wire was replaced by a 12 foot-high concrete wall eventually extending 103 miles (166 km) around the perimeter of West Berlin. The wall included electrified fences, fortifications, and guard posts. It became a notorious symbol of the Cold War. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan made notable appearances at the wall accompanied by speeches denouncing Communism. The wall was finally opened by an East German governmental decree in November 1989 and torn down by the end of 1990. Birthday - Women's rights pioneer Lucy Stone (1818-1893) was born near West Brookfield, Massachusetts. She dedicated her life to the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of women and aided in the founding of the American Suffrage Association. Birthday - Wild West performer Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was born in Darke County, Ohio. Famous for her shooting ability, she joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1885 and was one of the star attractions for 17 years. Birthday - British film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) was born in London.

His suspenseful films included classics such as The 39 Steps, Rebecca, Suspicion, Notorious, Rear Window, The Birds, Psycho and Frenzy, in addition to his American TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Birthday - Cuban President Fidel Castro was born in Mayari, Oriente Province, Cuba, August 13, 1927. He led a rebellion in 1959 that drove out Dictator Fulgencio Batista, and remains one of the last outspoken advocates of Communism. August 14 August 14, 1935 - President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act establishing the system which guarantees pensions to those who retire at age 65. The Social Security system also aids states in providing financial aid to dependent children, the blind and others, as well as administering a system of unemployment insurance. August 14, 1941 - After three days of secret meetings aboard warships off the coast of Newfoundland, the Atlantic Charter was issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The Charter, a foundation stone for the later establishment of the United Nations, set forth eight goals for the nations of the world, including; the renunciation of all aggression, right to self-government, access to raw materials, freedom from want and fear, freedom of the seas, and disarmament of aggressor nations. By September, fifteen anti-Axis nations signed the Charter. August 14, 1945 - Following the two Atomic Bomb drops and believing that continuation of the war would only result in further loss of Japanese lives, delegates of Emperor Hirohito accepted Allied surrender terms originally issued at Potsdam on July 26, 1945, with the exception that the Japanese Emperor's sovereignty would be maintained. Japanese Emperor Hirohito, who had never spoken on radio, then recorded an announcement admitting Japan's surrender, without actually using the word. The announcement was broadcast via radio to the Japanese people at noon the next day. The formal surrender ceremony occurred later, on September 2, 1945, on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. August 14, 1945 - V-J Day, commemorating President Truman's announcement that Japan had surrendered to the Allies.

August 15 Return to Top of Page August 15, 1969 - Woodstock began in a field near Yasgur's Farm at Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 rock bands and drew a crowd of more than 300,000 young people. The event came to symbolize the counter-culture movement of the 1960's. Birthday - French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was born on the island of Corsica. Originally an officer in King Louis' Army, he rose to become Emperor amid the political chaos that followed the French Revolution. He built a half-million strong Grand Army which utilized newly invented modern tactics and improvisation in battle to sweep across Europe and acquire an empire for France. However, after defeats in Russia and later by the British, he went into exile on the island of St. Helena off the coast of Africa. On May 5, 1821, he died alone on the tiny island abandoned by everyone.

August 16 August 16, 1777 - During the American Revolutionary War , the Battle of Bennington, Vermont, occurred as militiamen from Vermont, aided by Massachusetts troops, wiped out a detachment of 800 German-Hessians sent by British General Burgoyne to seize horses. August 16, 1780 - The Battle of Camden in South Carolina occurred during the American Revolutionary War. The battle was a big defeat for the Americans as forces under General Gates were defeated by troops of British General Charles Cornwallis, resulting in 900 Americans killed and 1,000 captured. August 16, 1896 - Gold was discovered in Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River in Alaska, resulting in the Great Klondike Gold Rush. August 16, 1977 - Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at the Memphis Baptist Hospital at 3:30 p.m., at age 42. Birthday - T.E. Lawrence 'of Arabia' (1888-1935) was born in Tremadoc, North Wales.

He led an Arab revolt against the Turks during World War I and served as a spy for the British. He was killed in a motorcycle accident at Dorset, England, on May 19, 1935. Birthday - Israeli leader Menachem Begin (1913-1992) was born in Brest-Litovsk, Poland. He fought for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine in the 1940's, serving as the leader of a militant Zionist group. In 1977, he became Prime Minister of Israel, and is best known for signing the 1979 Camp David Peace Accord between Israel and Egypt with President Jimmy Carter and President Anwar el Sadat of Egypt. August 17 August 17, 1943 - During World War II in Europe , the Allies completed the conquest of the island of Sicily after just 38 days. This gave the Allies control of the Mediterranean and also led to the downfall of Benito Mussolini and Italy's eventual withdrawal from the war.

However, the Germans managed to evacuate 39,569 troops, 47 tanks, 94 heavy guns, over 9,000 vehicles and 2,000 tons of ammunition back to the Italian mainland from Sicily. August 17, 1978 - The first transatlantic balloon trip was completed by three Americans; Max Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman, all from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Starting from Maine on August 11th, they traveled in Double Eagle II over 3,000 miles in 137 hours, landing about 60 miles west of Paris. August 17, 1998- Bill Clinton became the first sitting President to give testimony before a grand jury in which he, the President, was the focus of the investigation. This resulted from a sweeping investigation of the President by Independent Counsel Ken Starr as well as a private lawsuit concerning alleged sexual harassment by Clinton before he became President. In the evening, President Clinton appeared on national television and gave a speech admitting he had engaged in an improper relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The admission occurred several months after a much publicized denial.

Birthday - American frontiersman Davy Crockett (1786-1836) was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He was a farmer, scout and politician who perished at age 49 during the final heroic defense of the Alamo in Texas. August 18 August 18, 1920 - The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. Birthday - American explorer Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) was born near Charlottesville, Virginia. Along with William Clark, he explored the American West, and in 1805, after a journey of over 18 months, reached the Pacific Ocean. August 19 August 19, 1934 - In Germany, a plebiscite was held in which 89.9 percent of German voters approved granting Chancellor Adolf Hitler additional powers, including the office of president. August 19, 1991 - Soviet hard-line Communists staged a coup, temporarily removing Mikhail Gorbachev from power. The coup failed within 72 hours as democratic reformer Boris Yeltsin rallied the Russian people.

Yeltsin then became the leading power in the country. The Communist Party was soon banned and by December the Soviet Union itself disintegrated. Birthday - Aviation pioneer Orville Wright (1871-1948) was born in Dayton, Ohio. In 1903, Orville and his brother Wilbur achieved the world's first successful sustained and controlled flight of a motor-driven aircraft, following years of experimentation with kites and gliders. Birthday - Bill Clinton , the 42nd U.S. President was born in Hope, Arkansas, August 19, 1946. He was the first President elected who was not alive during World War II. Birthday - Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) the 23rd U.S. President was born in North Bend, Ohio. He was the grandson of William Henry Harrison , the 9th President.

August 21 August 21, 1863 - During the American Civil War , William Quantrill led 450 irregular Confederate raiders on a pre-dawn terrorist raid of Lawrence, Kansas, leaving 150 civilians dead, 30 wounded and much of the town a smoking ruin. In 1862, Quantrill had been denied a Confederate commission by the Confederate Secretary of War, who labeled Quantrill's notions of war as 'barbarism.' August 21, 1959 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii to the Union as the 50th state. August 21, 1983 - Filipino opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., was assassinated at the Manila airport while leaving his plane. Public outcry over the killing ultimately led to the collapse of the government of Ferdinand E. Marcos and the inauguration of Corazon C. Aquino, widow of the slain man, as president. August 22 August 22, 1986 - Deadly fumes from a volcanic eruption under Lake Nios in Cameroon killed more than 1,500 persons.

Birthday - French composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was born in St. Germain-en-Laye, France. His unusual chords, based on the whole-tone scale, laid the groundwork for a new style of music called impressionism. August 23 August 23, 1927 - Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were electrocuted inside a prison at Charlestown, Massachusetts. They had been convicted of a shoe factory payroll robbery during which the paymaster and a guard had been killed. Following their convictions, all appeals for a new trial had failed, despite the lack of hard evidence and a later admission by a known criminal that he had participated in the robbery with an organized criminal gang. The days and weeks leading up to their execution aroused worldwide protests amid accusations of unfair treatment because they had radical political views and were Italian. August 24 August 24, 79 A.D. - Vesuvius, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupted and destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum.

August 24, 1572 - Thousands of Protestant Huguenots were massacred in Paris and throughout France by Catholics, in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. August 24-25, 1814 - During the War of 1812, Washington, D.C., was invaded by British forces that burned the Capitol, the White House and most other public buildings along with a number of private homes. The burning was in retaliation for the earlier American burning of York (Toronto). August 25 Return to Top of Page August 25, 1985 - Samantha Smith died in an airplane crash in Maine. In 1982, the 11-year-old American schoolgirl had written a letter to Soviet Russia's leader Yuri Andropov asking, "Why do you want to conquer the whole world, or at least our country?" To her surprise, Andropov replied personally to her and offered an all-expense paid trip to the U.S.S.R. She toured Russia for two weeks amid worldwide publicity and came to symbolize American and Russian hopes for peaceful co-existence.

Birthday - American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Considered one of the finest conductors in American music history, his works included West Side Story, On the Town, and the opera Candide. August 26 August 26, 1883 - One of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in recorded history occurred on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa. Explosions were heard 2,000 miles away. Tidal waves 120 ft. high killed 36,000 persons on nearby islands, while five cubic miles of earth were blasted into the air up to a height of 50 miles. Birthday - American inventor Lee De Forest (1873-1961) was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He held hundreds of patents for inventions and was also a pioneer in the creation of wireless radio broadcasting and television. August 27 Birthday - Charles Dawes (1865-1951) was born in Marietta, Ohio. He served as U.S.

Vice President from 1925-29, and is best remembered for his "Dawes Plan" for German reparations following World War I . He received the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize. Birthday - Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908-1973) the 36th U.S. President was born near Stonewall, Texas. He ascended to the presidency upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Johnson served until January 20, 1969. Birthday - Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was born (as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in Skopje, Yugoslavia. She founded a religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India, called the Missionaries of Charity and spent her life working to help the poor and sick of India. August 28 August 28, 1963 - The March on Washington occurred as over 250,000 persons attended a Civil Rights rally in Washington, D.C., at which Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

made his now-famous I Have a Dream speech. Birthday - German author-philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He is best known for the dramatic poem Faust, completed in 1831. Birthday - The first American-born Roman Catholic saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was born (as Elizabeth Ann Bayley) in New York. She founded the first American Catholic religious order, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. In 1809, she opened an elementary school in Baltimore, marking the beginning of the parochial school system in the U.S. August 29 August 29, 1792 - In one of the worst maritime disasters, 900 men drowned on the British battleship Royal George. As the ship was being repaired, a gust of wind allowed water to flood into open gun ports. The ship sank within minutes.

August 29, 1991 - Following the unsuccessful coup of August 19-21, the Soviet Communist Party was suspended, thus ending the institution that ruled Soviet Russia for nearly 75 years. Birthday - Physician and author Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He once wrote, "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience." His poem Old Ironsides aroused popular sentiment in the 1830's which helped to save the historic frigate USS Constitution from destruction. Birthday - British philosopher and pioneer in modern political thinking, John Locke (1632-1704) was born in Wrington, England. His ideas greatly influenced American colonists, namely that rulers derive their power only from the consent of the governed - and the doctrine that men naturally possess certain rights, the chief being life, liberty, and property. August 30 Birthday - Frankenstein author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was born in London. Birthday - Civil rights leader Roy Wilkins (1901-1981) was born in St. Louis, Missouri.

The grandson of a Mississippi slave, he was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). August 31 August 31, 1786 - Shays' Rebellion began in Massachusetts as ex-Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays led an armed mob. The rebellion prevented the Northampton Court from holding a session in which debtors, mostly poor ex-soldier farmers, were to be tried and likely put in prison. Following this, in September, Shays' troops prevented Supreme Court sessions at Springfield, Massachusetts. Early in 1787, they attacked the Federal arsenal at Springfield, but were soon routed and fled. Shays was sentenced to death but was pardoned in 1788. August 31, 1980 - Solidarity, the Polish trade union, was formed at Gdansk, Poland. Led by Lech Walesa, Solidarity opposed Communist rule and was outlawed in 1981. Seven years later, the re-legalization of Solidarity occurred and the government agreed to hold partially free parliamentary elections.

Solidarity candidates scored stunning victories in the elections that followed, gaining power in Poland and paving the way for the downfall of Communism there. August 31, 1997 - Britain's Princess Diana died at age 36 from massive internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash, reportedly after being pursued by photographers. The crash occurred shortly after midnight in Paris inside a tunnel along the Seine River at the Pont de l'Alma bridge, less than a half mile north of the Eiffel Tower. Also killed in the crash were Diana's companion, Dodi Fayed, 42, and chauffeur Henri Paul. A fourth person in the car, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, was seriously injured. (Photo and picture credits: Library of Congress and U.S. National Archives) The Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York - Aug 15, 1969 - HISTORY.com This Day In History: 08/15/1969 - Woodstock Begins It didn't begin as a grand vision to stage a generation-defining cultural event. It began as a minor item in a business plan to build a professional recording studio in the vicinity of Woodstock, New York.

"Press Party," was what the entry near the bottom of the project outline read, and it was just enough to catch the eye of Joel Rosenman, who, along with his business partner John Roberts, was being pitched as a potential investor in the recording studio venture by two aspiring music-biz entrepreneurs named Mike Lang and Artie Kornfeld. Just as Roberts was preparing to say "No, thanks" to the proposal, his partner, Rosenman, posed a fateful question to Kornfeld: "Artie, what's this entry here about a press party?" The discussion that followed would eventually lead the four young men present to become partners in planning, promoting and staging the historic Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which opened its three-day run on this day in 1969. Lead Story The Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York Share this: The Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York Author The Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opens on a patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel.

Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists’ colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. Despite their relative inexperience, the young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more. Plans for the festival were on the verge of foundering, however, after both Woodstock and the nearby town of Wallkill denied permission to hold the event. Dairy farmer Max Yasgur came to the rescue at the last minute, giving the promoters access to his 600 acres of land in Bethel, some 50 miles from Woodstock. Early estimates of attendance increased from 50,000 to around 200,000, but by the time the gates opened on Friday, August 15, more than 400,000 people were clamoring to get in.

Those without tickets simply walked through gaps in the fences, and the organizers were eventually forced to make the event free of charge. Folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens kicked off the event with a long set, and Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie also performed on Friday night. Somewhat improbably, the chaotic gathering of half a million young “hippies” lived up to its billing of “Three Days of Peace and Music.” There were surprisingly few incidents of violence on the overcrowded grounds, and a number of musicians performed songs expressing their opposition to the Vietnam War. Among the many great moments at the Woodstock Music Festival were career-making performances by up-and-coming acts like Santana, Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; the Who’s early-morning set featuring songs from their classic rock opera “Tommy”; and the closing set by Hendrix, which climaxed with an improvised solo guitar performance of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Though Woodstock had left its promoters nearly bankrupt, their ownership of the film and recording rights more than compensated for the losses after the release of a hit documentary film in 1970.

Later music festivals inspired by Woodstock’s success failed to live up to its standard, and the festival still stands for many as a example of America’s 1960s youth counterculture at its best. Related Videos Petition Occupy Yasgurs Farm The Petition 0 Comment 539 Signatures 539 Signatures Goal: 1,000 In the past few years We The People have occupied WallStreet, SanFrancisco and many other locations to show our disapproval of the state of the nation. Now its time to Occupy Yasgur's Farm. We The People have the right to commemorate this piece of history that changed the world forever. That fateful summer of 1969 when thousands gathered to share love and light on the farm is an event that has touched many hearts and minds. And the spirit lives on in the fields and woods of Yasgur's farm. Now, as we have been for the past few years, we are being diverted from making our pilgrimage to Yasgur's and redirected to other locations. This year its time to stand up and take back our home!

We The People need to let the politicians and the citizens of Sullivan County know that we intend to gather and remember the monumental event that took place on Yasgur's farm peacefully and lawfully as it is our right!! Welcome Home Woodstockers...originals, newer models, and all kindred spirits of Peace and Love ***August 15th-18th*** Rain or shine Sponsor Gregg Charles... Friend of Roy & Jeryl, Lover of Woodstock, Musician, Supporter of the historical significance of Woodstock history, the People who made it happen, the site and Yasgurs Farm. Peace, Love & Music~ Links social bookmarking service Russian Federation 4 years ago green modular homes Russian Federation 4 years ago Benjamin Moonhawk Manton United States 4 years ago 44th Anniversary of Woodstock Mexico 4 years ago David Robert Anderson United States 4 years ago Dennis J. Mark United States 4 years ago 29 Pictures Showing Life, Love, And Community At Woodstock 29 Pictures Showing Life, Love, And Community At Woodstock Comments More than 400,000 young people attended the legendary Woodstock festival on August 15, 1969.

The event took place in a dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York, for The Woodstock Music & Art Fair. The “3 Days of Peace & Music” featured 32 acts including Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Santana, The Grateful Dead, The Who, and Jefferson Airplane. The festival is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history, with Rolling Stone listing it as one of the 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll. #1. Event organisers weren’t expecting the massive crowd that turned up. Town officials were assured that only 50,000 people would show up. AP #2. But thousands more flocked to the small New York town. Hulton Archive / Getty Images #3. There was so much traffic getting to Woodstock that ambulances couldn’t reach this young man who had suffered a head injury as a result of being thrown from the trunk of a car. AP #4. Event organisers eventually started to offer admission free of charge. Bill Eppridge / The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett #5. Women giving medical care during Woodstock. There were two recorded births at the festival.

There were also two deaths: one from a heroin overdose and another when a tractor ran over a sleeping concert goer. John Dominis / The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett #6. The vibe was electric. Three Lions / Getty Images #7. Joe Cocker was among the big names performing. AP Photo #8. Woodstock perfectly captured the free spirit of the 1960s. Archive Photos / Getty Images #11. People banded together to feed other concert goers. John Dominis / The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett #12. Spot the sheep. #13. Woodstock is remembered as being a peaceful event — despite the size of the gathering. Tucker Ranson / Pictorial Parade / Hulton Archive / Getty Images #14. The Who rocking the crowd. Henry Diltz / Corbis #15. Medical supplies arrived by helicopter. Anonymous / AP #16. They don’t design them like they used to. AP #17. Max and Miriam Yasgur, the farmers who owned the land on which Woodstock was held. Bill Eppridge / The LIFE Picture Collection/Gett #18.

Epic guitarist Carlos Santana and bassist David Brown performed on day two. Tucker Ransom / Hulton Archive / Getty Images #19. The crowd was so large that at one point New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller considered sending the National Guard. AP #20. Naturally, some questionable recreational drug use took place. The sign reads: “have a marijuana”. AP Photo #21. David Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash performed on day three. Henry Diltz / Corbis #22. You can almost imagine being there. AP #23. Getting a good view. Three Lions / Getty Images

Question: In August 1969, what notable event took place on Max Yasgur’s farm?
Answer: Woodstock festival