WRMM to be expanded: Expansion includes new entrance, new event center

Chelsea Weeks, Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
·3 min read

May 27—Letters from Will Rogers adolescences, glass slides of movie posters, studio contracts, movie scripts, and costumes are just a few of the 30,000 unseen items at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum that now have the chance to be on display.

Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 4099 Thursday, which provides the Oklahoma Historical Society with $46 million to address needs at 23 historical sites — including the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will receive $7 million which will be used to create a new entrance, a new event center, add a new vault up to modern preservation standards and make the museum ADA compliant by adding elevators.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum Foundation will raise an additional $7 million, which will go towards renovating the museum, adding over 4,000 square feet of additional exhibit space.

This will be the first renovation for the museum since it was built in 1938.

"We really want to share what made Will special to the world," Executive Director Tad Jones said. "We're in a time when people are fighting online all the time and can't get along, and Will is a perfect role-model citizen to, not only our country, but our world."

Curator of Collections Jennifer Holt said they have four broad categories of collections at the WRMM: documents, photographs, films and objects.

Holt said about 40% of the 'objects' collection is on display.

"What you see in exhibit is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to collections," she said.

Holt said they plan on adding new exhibits with themes focusing on Will Rogers fame and celebrity, western art, saddlery and tack, his stagecraft and a movie exhibit with his poster collection from the 1920's and 30's. Holt said they have some three sheet movie posters and two six-sheet movie posters.

"There's never been rooms to put [the two six sheet posters] out," she said.

Will Rogers great granddaughter Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry said on behalf of the Rogers family, they are very grateful to the legislators and Gov. Stitt for making this a reality.

"This is exactly what we need to, not only keep him on the map here, but to get him back on the map nationally and internationally," she said. "I don't see this as being a project just for the community. I see this as being a worldwide experience."

Rogers-Etcheverry said her role as the family representative is to keep his legacy alive and educate new generations on who he was.

Jones said they've been working on this project since 2019.

"COVID hit and that put everything off for a while," he said.

Jones said the bond money will be released in November and they hope to begin construction next year. The goal is to have the renovations completed by 2026, which would be the 100th anniversary of Route 66.

"We want everyone driving through to stop here," he said.

Jones said they want to be the "top-shop on Route 66."

Jones said the state-of-the-art exhibits will not only show Will Rogers' character and tell his story, but also inspire good citizenship across the world.

"When you walk out, we hope you want to go out and do some of the same," he said.

The Foundation is starting to create a fundraising plan, Jones said.

"When this museum was built in 1938, everybody pitched in with nickles and dime," he said. "We'll be asking the same thing. We want people to be apart of this."

Jones said they'll be selling pavers for the new entryway.

"We'd love to have everybody invest in this because it's been a part of this state and community for 90 years," he said. "We're excited to get started on this new chapter."