Free admission to The Museum at Bethel Woods as part of Museum Day Live!

BETHEL, NY — The Museum at Bethel Woods will open its doors free of charge on Saturday, Sept. 28 as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s ninth annual Museum Day Live! A nationwide event, Museum Day Live! offers free admission to visitors presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket at a participating museum or cultural institution.

Inclusive by design, the event represents Smithsonian’s commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone, giving museums across all 50 states the opportunity to emulate the admission policy of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Last year’s event drew more than 400,000 participants, and this year’s event expects record-high participation.

“We are very excited to participate in Museum Day Live!” explains Darlene Fedun, Chief Executive Officer at Bethel Woods. “Just like the Smithsonian, Bethel Woods is committed to offering affordable access to high-quality programs, including the Museum. This day allows the opportunity for visitors to take a trip to the Museum for the first time, or encourage repeat visits to explore the changing special exhibits.”

On display now through Dec. 31, the Museum at Bethel Woods presents its second special exhibit of the year, "Keeping Time: The Photography of Don Hunstein – The Unseen Archive of Columbia Records." The exhibit highlights the 30-year career of Don Hunstein as in-house photographer at Columbia Records in New York City from the 1950s through the 1970s. During that time, Hunstein photographed thousands of rehearsals, recording sessions and candid moments of some of the era’s most important musicians and singers. His position at Columbia Records gave him unique access to Dylan, Miles Davis, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel and countless others, and his photographs capture the true spirit of the performers and their time.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2013 and a list of participating museums and cultural institutions, visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.

The Museum at Bethel Woods will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Regular museum hours are Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through Dec. 31. Open Monday, Oct. 14 for Columbus Day. Open special holiday hours Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 30 and 31. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.