Part of our in-depth series exploring the forts of Comancheria
Will Rogers Museum
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
1720 West Will Rogers Boulevard
Claremore, Oklahoma 74017
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 157
Claremore, Oklahoma 74018-0157
918.341.0719
800.324.9455 Toll Free
918.343.8119 Fax
[email protected] E-mail
Museum Construction
The 16,652-square-foot, eight-gallery museum was built of fossilized limestone quarried nearby. Opened in 1938, the main building was financed by a $200,000 appropriation by the Oklahoma Legislature. The east wing was added in 1982 using additional legislative appropriations. During the 1990-95 period, the entire museum was remodeled with $3 million in private and public funds.
The Site
The museum frames the family tomb in the sunken garden. Spread across the southern horizon is the Tiawah Valley. The twenty-acre museum grounds, purchased by Will Rogers in 1911 for $500 an acre, was his planned retirement home site. Following his untimely death, his widow and children donated the land, along with great parts of the collection.
Will Rogers
The Library
The 2,400-square-foot library serves as offices for the staff of the Will Rogers Memorial. Research space also is available for scholars and writers. Included in the library are more than 2,000 volumes by, about or referencing Will Rogers, in addition to texts on Indians, vaudeville, early motion pictures and the 1879-1935 era.
The Archives
The carefully protected archives, the world's largest collection of documents related to Will Rogers, include 18,000 photographs and thousands of original manuscripts, private letters, contracts and personal papers.
Exhibits:
* Will Rogers' artifacts
* Memorabilia
* Saddle collection
* Photographs and manuscripts depicting a career as
Trick roper
Vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies performer
Movie star
Radio commentator
Syndicated newspaper columnist
Author and philosopher
* Rogers family tomb
* Research library and archives
Hours of Operations
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., March through mid-November. Museum is open during the rest of the year but closes Monday/Tuesday and is also closed for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Admissions
$7 for adults, $5 for 62+, $5 for military members, $3 for 6-17, under 5s are free. Inquire for school and tour group rates.
Related Links
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
Will Rogers Web Site