On Friday, August 14, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will hold a groundbreaking to mark the start of its development and expansion, including gardens, the memorial, and outdoor spaces.

The event will begin at noon with remarks by Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson, Will Rogers Memorial Museum Director Tad Jones, and Rogers family representative Jennifer Rogers.

After the groundbreaking, there will be refreshments and a viewing of the building plans, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb at 1 p.m.

Two mini exhibits will also debut that day. From Lariat to Mallet will explore Will Rogers’s love of polo by examining the game’s history and rules. Find out how Will got started playing the game with celebrities and family.

Another exhibit, A Word With Will, will employ new AI technology that allows visitors to step into a 1920s phone booth and simulate a conversation with Will Rogers!

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum was built in 1938 on land Will and Betty Rogers purchased in 1911. After Will’s tragic death, Betty donated the property to the state of Oklahoma to establish a memorial. In 1982, an office wing, library, and theater were added.

The addition and renovation project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2028, and the Museum will remain open to the public during construction.