Will Rogers, an American Icon

By great good luck, we stayed in Claremore, Oklahoma one night.  Claremore was the boyhood home of the fabled American, Will Rogers.  Cowboy, vaudeville performer, movie actor, adventurer, humanitarian, and columnist, Rogers' life touched millions of Americans.  Know for his homely philosophy, candor, and unbounding wit, Rogers talents were cut short in a plane crash in Alaska when he was only 55.  

We found the Will Rogers Memorial on a hilltop in Claremore, overlooking the city.  At first, we thought we were in the wrong place; the memorial looked like a church.  And, perhaps at some level, it was just that.   The reverence of Americans for Will Rogers is profound; even our 92-year-old aunt excitedly told us what a great man he was, when she learned we had visited the memorial.

The writer in me was taken by the re-creation of Will's study from his home in California.  The homely ambiance, practical desk and comfy daybed epitomized a writer's den.  Keepsakes and photos on the walls showed the personal side of Will's life.  Southwestern-style rugs paid tribute to his Cherokee heritage.

The museum showcased Will's collection of saddles from around the world.  He collected not only standard-sized saddles, but also miniature saddles. 

Different eras of Will's career were showcased in the halls. My favorite showed his early life as "the Cherokee kid".  He was know for his trick roping skills, and even made a movie, "The Ropin' Fool" to demo his technique.  Recently, the museum hosted a roping contest, and no one was able to match Will's roping skills or duplicate all of his roping tricks.  Truly amazing!

Most poignant of all was the exhibit of telegrams sent from all over America with condolences for the family when Will died.  His clothing and personal items had been preserved from the plane crash that took his life.  His manual typewriter, twisted beyond use, was retrieved from the wreck and is preserved as part of the museum collection.