Will Rogers Gardens facts for kids
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Will Rogers Gardens is a special park in Oklahoma City that covers about 30 acres. It's a historic spot that's open all year long for everyone to enjoy. This amazing garden has a beautiful rose garden, a big area with many different kinds of trees called an arboretum, and a warm greenhouse (a conservatory) filled with cool cacti and succulent plants.
You can also find colorful displays of daylilies, iris, azaleas, herbs, and peonies here. It's a great place to learn about plants and nature.
The main building at Will Rogers Gardens is called the Garden Exhibition Building. It often hosts fun classes and events about gardening and nature for people of all ages. You can even rent parts of the Gardens, the Conservatory, or rooms in the Exhibition Building for special events like weddings.
Will Rogers Gardens is part of a larger area called Will Rogers Park. This park also has a family swimming center, a big tennis center with 24 courts, a disk golf course, and a recreation center for older adults.
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Discovering Will Rogers Gardens
Will Rogers Gardens is a very important place, so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once one of four "crown jewels" located on the edges of Oklahoma City. Even today, it remains a beloved community garden, known for its beautiful plant displays and carefully designed areas.
A Look Back: Garden History
- 1912: City leaders bought 160 acres of land that used to be a dairy farm. This is where the gardens would grow!
- 1932: Henry Walters, a plant expert for the Parks Department, started to develop the garden. He worked with groups like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Work Projects Administration (WPA) during the 1930s. These groups helped build many parks and public spaces.
- 1936: The Ed Lycan Conservatory, a special greenhouse, was moved to Will Rogers Gardens. It was first built in 1924 at another park.
- 1938: The Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs made Will Rogers Gardens their home. The Oklahoma Rose Society planted a 2-acre rose garden with 3,000 rose bushes!
- 1940: The rose garden was officially named the Oklahoma City Municipal Rose Garden. It was updated in 1950 to make it even better.
- 1963: The Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center, the main building you see today, was built.
- 1986: The Rose Garden was renamed the Charles E. Sparks Rose Garden. This was to honor a Parks Department supervisor who worked hard in the rose garden.
- 1987: Will Rogers Gardens received a huge gift of cacti and succulent plants from Charles and Mary Polaski.
Special Places in the Gardens
Will Rogers Gardens has a few key buildings and areas that make it unique.
The Ed Lycan Conservatory
The Ed Lycan Conservatory is a beautiful greenhouse designed by famous architects Lord and Burnham. It was first set up in Douglass Park in 1924. Then, in 1936, it was carefully moved to Will Rogers Park. This greenhouse is named after Ed Lycan, who was the very first employee of the Oklahoma City Parks Department. He worked there from 1912 to 1954 and spent a lot of his time making Will Rogers Gardens beautiful.
The Garden Exhibition Building
The Garden Exhibition Building is a busy place in Will Rogers Park. It's the home of the Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs. This group started in 1921 to encourage horticulture (the art of growing plants), flower gardening, and protecting nature. Many classes and events are held in this building, making it a hub for plant lovers.
Fun Activities and Learning
Will Rogers Gardens is not just a pretty place; it's also a center for learning and community events.
Events at the Gardens
The gardens host many flower shows and plant sales throughout the year. There's also a "Festival in the Park" held every year on the last Saturday in May. Local garden and plant groups use the Exhibition Building for their monthly meetings, which are often open to the public. These meetings are a great way to learn more about gardening.
Education for All Ages
The gardens offer classes and tours that you can arrange. They have scheduled events like classes on growing plants, drawing nature, and even flower arranging. It's a fantastic place to pick up new skills and learn about the natural world.
Planning Your Visit
Will Rogers Gardens and the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum are free to visit!
- From October 1 to March 31, they are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- From April 1 to September 30, they are open longer, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
The Ed Lycan Conservatory and Plaza are also free to visit, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Garden Exhibition Building is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you need to speak with the office staff, their hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you want to make a reservation or get rental information, you'll need to make an appointment.
You can find Will Rogers Gardens at 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
