Will Rogers Memorial entry temporarily changed
Renovation in the entrance wing of the Claremore Will Rogers Memorial Museum will begin Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Entry to the Museum during work on exhibit changes and new flooring will be changed to the south side of the museum through the rotunda at the iconic Jo Davidson statue of Will Rogers.
Artifacts and exhibit cases in the west gallery will be removed, starting Monday, according to Jennifer Holt, museum curator. The west gallery and museum store will be closed to the public starting Tuesday until work is completed. A temporary store will be located in the rotunda.
On Tuesday, paintings will be removed from the west gallery walls and carpet in that area removed to prepare for pouring a new concrete ramp between the west gallery and the rotunda area. Tile will replace carpeting through most of the museum.
Signs will direct visitors to the south entry and handicapped ramp at the rotunda door to allow public accessibility from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, just as it has been since the Memorial opened Nov. 4, 1938, said Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Museums executive director.
He said because of the demands for sub-contractors, a completion date for tile installation and re-opening of the gallery has not been set.