Even after his name was in lights on Broadway and the movie screen, Will Rogers came home to Oklahoma when he could find the time.
When he died on Aug. 15, 1935, in an Alaska plane crash, Will Rogers had made a mark in history as an Indian cowboy, star of stage and big screen, columnist, philosopher and ambassador of good will.
Tad Jones, executive director at Will Rogers Memorial Museums, invites groups to come and spend the day with Will Rogers, “America’s Cowboy Philosopher.”
Credit: Will Rogers Memorial Museums
“The memorial museum in Claremore allows you to explore the man that everyone in America considered a friend,” Jones said.
Each month, people come from all over the world to learn more about Will Rogers. An enhanced audio tour further personalizes group visits.
“Will commented about every state and many countries,” Jones said. “He was aware of their politics and their surroundings and shared them in his writings. The new Enhanced Tour will allow visitors to search their state or country and read what Will had to say about them and hopefully have a new connection with him.”
Credit: Will Rogers Memorial Museums
Exhibits change from time to time, but galleries of priceless artifacts and art continue to tell the enduring story of the life and legacy of Rogers, one of the most influential and best-known figures of the first half of the 20th century.
With Rogers’ storied credits in film and his career in political radio and writing covering seven U.S. presidents, the museum appeals to diverse group interests. Special arrangements for guides or a historical interpreter further help groups to learn, laugh and be inspired by the life and work of Will Rogers.
Also part of Will Rogers Memorial Museums, the Birthplace Ranch is located in Oologah, about 14 miles northwest of the memorial museum site.
For more information, call 918-341-0719 or visit willrogers.com/group-tours.
Article by Michael McLaughlin
