Woody Guthrie Park - Okemah, OK
Posted by: hamquilter
N 35° 25.885 W 096° 18.243
14S E 744741 N 3924226
This park is located on W. Broadway in downtown Okemah.
Waymark Code: WMYCGW
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 05/29/2018
Views: 2
Born on July 14, 1912 in Okemah, Woody Guthrie was a folks singer during the hard times in the 1930's. Having lived it, he wrote over 3000 songs and poems about the rough times of the '20s, the economic problems and Dust Bowl of the '30s, and then the post-war political and cultural issues of the '50s and '60s. Best known for his song, "This land is Your Land", he was a figurehead of American folk music.
The park is located between two downtown buildings and has a bronze statue of Woody, a mural, and a memorial plaque presented by the Grammy Museum. Each year, the town has a Woody Guthrie Folk Festival.
Two bronze plaques record the dedication of the park:
(1) "This park was donated to the City of Okemah, and dedicated in memory of Dale Wolfe by Lloyd and Helen Beasley and Alma Wolfe."
(2) This park donated and dedicated in memory of Lawrence Powers.
(3) A patio of donated pavers is located in front of the statue.