TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum called Tuesday’s opening of the Bob Dylan Center a historic day in Tulsa. The center is full of the musician’s life with hopes of helping others find ways to express themselves.

Downtown Tulsa is now the home where songwriter and generational artist influencer, Bob Dylan’s legacy is on display.

“We go deep into the archive to suggest the breadth and depth of the material here, that charged the course for, arguably, the most important musical and cultural figure in America over the last 50 or 60 years,” said Steven Jenkins, the director of the Bob Dylan Center.

The center, located near MLK Jr. Boulevard and East Reconciliation Way, features tons of memorabilia, including notebooks with handwritten lyrics, letters from fans and a tambourine that inspired the song Mr. Tambourine Man.

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“I hope they do gain a fuller understanding of Dylan and his artistry, not just music but visual art as well. There are some surprises here,” said Jenkins.

Those surprises include things that were only rumored to exist, and Jenkins is leaving that up to fans to find.

Jeremy Miller came from St. Louis for the grand opening.

“I’m curious if when he went electric, in Newport, if that guitar is in there. I know the story is the bus driver ended up with it and someone purchased it for a million dollars,” said Miller.

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Bob Dylan’s music is much more to fans and those less familiar with him. Miller said it’s an example of how music is the language to life.

“What it means to me, it transcends really as music. I have no idea what it means to anybody else. I can’t grasp it. It’s powerful. It isn’t just music,” said Miller.

The language instills freedom, feeling and allows people to find themselves time and time again.

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