Presented is a 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair metal sign, one that was hung at Ken Van Loan's nearby gas station, one that offered free water. Commonly known as Woodstock, the fair was not actually held in Woodstock, New York, but in Bethel, New York, about 60 miles away. The concert was held from August 15-18th at Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm. The event's promoters expected about 50,000 attendees, but Woodstock actually had an estimated 450,000 concert goers. Planning for the event was rife with problems, and a sudden change of venue before the scheduled start of the fair left no time to adequately build a fence and ticket booths, so most of the audience did not pay to attend, but simply showed up and walked in. Because of the chaotic planning and unexpected hordes, there were vast shortages of food, and problems with sanitation. In addition, rain, both before and during the fair, made many areas extremely muddy. The crowd was generally peaceful, but there were 742 recorded incidents of drug overdoses, and two deaths from the overdoses and one death because of a tractor accident. In 1970, a documentary film of the event, titled simply Woodstock, was a huge hit, and won an Academy Award.

Some of Woodstock's 32 different performing acts: Friday - Richie Havens, Ravi Shankar, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez; Saturday: Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin & Kozmic Blues Band, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane; Sunday into Monday Morning: Joe Cocker & the Grease Band, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; Jim Hendrix/Gypsy Sun & Rainbows.

The offered sign was originally cut from a metal picnic table by using a blow torch. Mostly circular, the sign has a diameter of approx. 27". Most of a peace sign has been crafted at the bottom of the circle, and the image of a guitar stretches across the middle of the offering. The sign comes with a detailed, undated Letter of Authenticity written by the consignor: "Woodstock Sign/I purchased this sign from Dick Benjamin, an antique dealer who was located in Monticello, N. Y. He purchased it from Lilley's son. Lilley obtained the sign from Ken Van Loan, who made the sign. It was originally white. Lilley painted the sign in 1979, for the 10th Anniversary. Ken Van Loan made the sign by cutting it out of a metal picnic table w/a torch. Glenn Del Gaizo." The sign shows substantial wear. There are many rust spots, scratches, weather stains, scrapes, metal and paint loss, etc. The sign weighs approximately 7 lbs. and 8 ounces. The sign's value rests in that it comes from a landmark time in history, with relevance both to music and to the 1960s counterculture movement.

Estimated domestic USA shipping cost only. Does not include handling or insurance: 47.62 Please feel free to contact us for a more accurate shipping cost.