Will Rogers Memorial Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Will Rogers Memorial Museum

Established	1938
Location	Claremore, Oklahoma
Type	History and art museum

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a special place in Claremore, Oklahoma. It's about 19,052-square-foot (1,770 m²) big and celebrates the life of a famous entertainer named Will Rogers.

Inside the museum, you can see many things from Will Rogers' life. There are old items, photos, and even his writings. You can also watch movies, speeches, and documentaries starring him in the museum's theater. Will Rogers' tomb is on the 20-acre (8 ha) grounds, looking out over Claremore and Rogers State University.

For a long time, a group called the Will Rogers Memorial Commission managed the museum. But in 2016, the Governor of Oklahoma signed a law. This law moved the museum and everything it owned to the Oklahoma Historical Society, which is another state group.

The Story of the Museum
What's Inside the Museum?
Outside the Museum
Joining the Oklahoma Historical Society
Gallery
See also

The Story of the Museum

Interior of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, showing Jo Davidson's statue

Will Rogers was born near Oologah, Oklahoma. He bought the land where the museum now stands in 1911. It was a 20 acres (8.1 ha) plot with a great view of the Tiawah Valley. He planned to build his retirement home there.

After Will Rogers passed away, the land went to his family. In 1937, during a tough time called the Great Depression, Will's wife, Betty, gave the land to the state of Oklahoma. She wanted it to be a memorial for her husband. She also gave all of Will's papers and many personal items to start the museum's collection.

The state of Oklahoma spent $200,000 to build the museum. The first building was made of limestone and was 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m²). It was designed by John Duncan Forsyth. Construction started on April 21, 1938. Will's sister, Sallie Rogers McSpadden, helped by turning the first shovel of dirt. The museum was finished on November 4, 1938, which would have been Will Rogers' 59th birthday. It opened that same year, three years after he died.

In 1983, the museum got a big addition. This new part was 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m²) and almost doubled the museum's space. It added a theater, a bigger gift shop, offices, and more room for showing the collections. These collections are organized by the different parts of Will Rogers' life and career.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma

Another view of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum

What's Inside the Museum?

The main round room, called the rotunda, has a famous sculpture of Will Rogers. It was made by an artist named Jo Davidson. On the base of the statue, there's a famous quote from Will Rogers: "...I never met a man I didn't like." This statue is a copy of one that represents Oklahoma in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

The part added in 1983 includes a large library and offices. These areas are used by people who want to study and write about Will Rogers. This section is 2,400 square feet (220 m²) and has over 2,000 books about Will Rogers. It also has books on other topics like Native Americans, family history, old-time shows called vaudeville, early movies, and history from 1879 to 1935. The museum's archives also have about 18,000 photos. Plus, there are thousands of original writings, private letters, and personal papers. You can also find old movies, home videos, and audio recordings.

Outside the Museum

Will Rogers' tomb is located outside the building. It looks out over the city of Claremore. Other family members are buried there too. These include Will's wife, Betty (who lived from 1879 to 1944), and three of their four children: Fred Stone Rogers, Mary Amelia Rogers Brooks, and James Blake (Jim) Rogers. Jim's wife, Marguerite Astrea Kemmler Rogers, and Jim's oldest son, James Kemmler (Kem) Rogers, are also buried there.

Joining the Oklahoma Historical Society

On March 7, 2016, Governor Mary Fallin signed a new law. This law placed the Will Rogers Memorial Commission under the control of the Oklahoma Historical Society. This meant the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Dog Iron Ranch (Will Rogers' birthplace in Oologah, Oklahoma) would now be managed by the Historical Society. The new law started right away.

Most people agreed with this change. It was approved by lawmakers in Oklahoma. Tad Jones, the museum's director, said that the museum had faced money cuts for several years. He believed that joining the Historical Society would help protect the museum's funding.

Will Rogers' family was also very happy about the merger. Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, Will Rogers' great-granddaughter, said she saw no problems with it. The new law also requires that a direct descendant of Will Rogers be appointed to the Historical Society's board of directors.