Will Rogers Memorial Museum
History
Will Rogers was the #1 radio personality, he was #1 at the movie box office, he was the nations #1 most sought after public speaker, he was the #1 most read newspaper columnist, he wrote books, traveled the world, and gave liberally to charities around the world. Will Rogers was beloved by all.
William Penn Adair Rogers was born on election day, November 4, 1879, in a log-walled, seven-room house, known as "the White House on the Verdigris River," in Indian Territory.
His parents were Clement Vann Rogers and Mary America Schrimsher Rogers.
From living among Indians and blacks, he carried lessons of brotherhood that came from understanding the pride of minorities.
Will Rogers’ masterful roping tricks would enter the Guinness Book of Records while his words about brotherhood and human kindness would be written across the heart of humanity.
Hard-earned lariat skills won Will Rogers employment as a trick roper in wild west shows and on the vaudeville stage.
His lessons of life, visions of humanity, and kind spirit were formed into wit, jokes, and observations that bespoke great human dimensions. Humor and folksy observations by Will Rogers were prized by audiences around the world. He proved visionary, well-informed, and simply a smart philosopher. He told truth in simple words so that everyone could understand.
Will Roger's Collections
With Will Rogers’s untimely death in 1935, a debate began quickly on how to honor America’s “Cowboy Philosopher.” Discussion on the location of where to build a monument was at the top of the list.
With the help of Betty Rogers, the Oklahoma Legislature, and thousands of individual donors, the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma, opened to the public on November 4, 1938.
The beautiful limestone facility houses the largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia in the world and all of his writings. The Museum has twelve galleries, a children’s museum, theater, and library. The grounds also have a lovely sunken garden where Will Rogers, his wife Betty, and several family members are entombed.
Group or School Tours
- Open Daily: 10 AM - 5 PM (March 1 - November 10)
- ·Seasonal Hours (November 11 - Feb 28): closed Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
- Special arrangements for tours on Monday and Tuesday during seasonal hours may be made in advance. Please call the office for more information, 918-343-8113.
- Unique experience
- Guides available
- Special Presentation by our interpreter - Andy Hogan
- 1-2 hour tour
- Bus parking
- Group Rates - $5 (min. 10 persons and driver admission free)
- Group meal planning (consider lunch at the Birthplace Ranch)
- Easy highway access
- Great gift shop
- Close to shopping and dining in Claremore
Speaker Request
- We would love to come to speak at your luncheon, dinner, reception, or civil club.
- One of our Will Rogers interpreters can speak for 20-30 minutes about the life of Will Rogers. We can assure you that it will be informative and entertaining.