Will Rogers State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Will Rogers State Historic Park |
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Hiking trail surrounding the park
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| Type | State Park |
| Location | Santa Monica mountains |
| Nearest city | Los Angeles, California |
| Area | 186 acres (75 ha) |
| Created | 1944 |
| Operated by | California State Parks |
| Status | Open |
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Will Rogers House
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| Location | 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road Los Angeles, California |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000149 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1971 |
Will Rogers State Historic Park is an amazing place that used to be the home of a famous American humorist named Will Rogers. It's located in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, in an area called Pacific Palisades. This park is a fun spot where you can learn about history and enjoy nature.
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Exploring the Park's Features
Will Rogers built his large ranch in what is now the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. He lived there with his wife, Betty, and their three children. Their home was a huge 31-room ranch house with many bathrooms and fireplaces.
The ranch also had stables, corrals, a riding ring, and a roping arena. There was even a golf course and a polo field! You can still explore the riding and hiking trails. These trails offer awesome views of the ranch and the countryside around it.
The entire park covers 186 acres (about 757,000 square meters). After Mrs. Rogers passed away, the ranch became a State Park in 1944. The house was officially recognized as a historic place in 1971.
Restoring the Ranch House
California State Parks worked hard to fix up the ranch house between 2002 and 2006. They rebuilt parts of the house, made it safer in case of earthquakes, and updated the electrical and heating systems. The house was reopened to visitors in March 2006.
Trails and Scenic Views
Beyond the ranch house and stables, you'll find trails that lead to incredible views. Since Will Rogers State Historic Park is high up in the Santa Monica Mountains, the trails offer sights of both the ocean and the mountains.
You can hike to a spot called Inspiration Point. Or, you can take the Rogers trail around the edge of the park. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even continue into Topanga State Park using the Backbone Trail System.
A Look Back in Time
The ranch shows how much Will Rogers loved horses and riding. The first thing you might notice when you look south from the parking area is the polo field. This is the only outdoor polo field in Los Angeles County. It's also the only one that's the official size for polo games.
The Ranch in Movies
The ranch has been used in many movies and TV shows! For example, it appeared in Star Trek IV, where it pretended to be Golden Gate Park. The polo field has a gentle slope, which makes it a great spot for watching the polo action.
Visitor Center and Home Tours
Near the parking area are the ranch buildings. The visitor center used to be the Rogers' garage and guest house. Inside the visitor center, you can watch a film about Will Rogers' life. There are also photo displays, information, and an audio tour to guide you around the grounds.
The ranch buildings and grounds are kept just as they were when the Rogers family lived there in the late 1920s and 1930s. The living room in the main ranch house has a collection of Native American rugs and baskets. You can also see original Western art by famous artists like Charles M. Russell.
A fun detail in the living room is a porch swing in the middle of the room. There's also a mounted calf! This calf was given to Will Rogers to encourage him to practice his roping skills on it instead of his friends. The north side of the house has the family bedrooms, Will Rogers' study, and a sunroom. These rooms are also filled with the family's original furniture.
Park Status Changes
In January 2008, Will Rogers State Historic Park was one of 48 California state parks that faced a possible closure. This was part of a plan by California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to save money. Luckily, the park remained open for everyone to enjoy!
Gallery
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Interior of ranch home
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Horse stable
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Historical photo of stable
See also
- Backbone Trail System
- Santa Monica Mountains topics index
- Will Rogers State Beach
