Will Rogers Memorial Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Will Rogers Memorial Center
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Will Rogers Tower and Auditorium in 1993
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 Will Rogers Memorial Center
Location in Texas
Will Rogers Memorial Center
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas United States |
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| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | Wyatt C. Hedrick, Herman Koeppe, Elmer G. Withers |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000122 |
| Added to NRHP | March 22, 2016 |
The Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) is a large complex in Fort Worth, Texas. It covers about 120 acres, which is like 90 football fields! This center is a popular place for fun events. It hosts sports, entertainment, and livestock shows. It is named after Will Rogers, a famous American humorist and writer.
The Will Rogers Memorial Center is home to the yearly Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. It also hosts many special horse and animal shows. Over 2 million people visit the center every year!
Contents
What Can You Find at the Center?
The Will Rogers Memorial Center has several buildings and arenas. These are designed for different types of events.
- Will Rogers Coliseum (with 5,652 seats)
- Will Rogers Auditorium (with 2,856 seats)
- Will Rogers Equestrian Center
- Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall
- James L. & Eunice West Arena
- John Justin Arena
- W. R. Watt Arena
History of the Will Rogers Memorial Center
The Memorial Center was built in 1936. It was designed by a famous architect named Wyatt C. Hedrick. He used a cool style called Moderne, which is a type of Art Deco. This style is known for its sleek lines and decorative elements.
Also in 1936, a man named Amon G. Carter asked Electra Waggoner Biggs to create a special statue. This statue, called Riding into the Sunset, honors Will Rogers and his horse, Soapsuds. It was finally shown at the Center in 1947.
In 2016, the entire complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Nearby: Dickies Arena
A new building called the Dickies Arena opened in November 2019. It is right next to the Will Rogers Memorial Center. This new arena has 14,000 seats. It now hosts the main Fort Worth Stock Show rodeos and big concerts. It also hosted early games for the 2022 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Even with the new arena, the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum still hosts many horse events in Fort Worth.
Gallery
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Postcard of [Will Rogers] Coliseum, Memorial [Pioneer] Tower and [Will Rogers] Auditorium, undated
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Interior of Will Rogers Coliseum, 2016
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Exterior of Will Rogers Coliseum, 2016
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