Will Rogers didn’t say cuss words.
He didn’t smoke.

Will’s trouble at school was for roping everything in sight.      Andy Hogan put the young Will in the third grade perspective when Roosa third graders visited the Will Rogers Museum on International Museum Day.      Hogan, retired Claremont principal who represented Will Rogers in Claremore Chamber of Commerce gridiron shows, has joined the Museum staff to assist with tour groups.      Classes of Claudia Pierce, Charrel Reeves and Sharrel Lenaburg learned about Will Rogers life, toured the Museum, rubbed the shiny toes of Will’s shoes on the statue in the museum rotunda and were treated to a snack in honor of the special day.      As he told about the family, Hogan related the deaths of Will’s brothers and sisters, his mother and one of his own children in the days before children were required to have immunizations.      When Will Rogers left military school and went to work on a Texas ranch he wrote to his sisters, but not to his disappointed father. “His dad probably practiced tough love,” Hogan told the children.      It was Will’s own production of the “Roping Fool” that had the children on the edge of their seats. They clapped as he roped a running horse and rider in a “figure eight.” Lindsey Beaver is ready to take center stage in the Will Rogers Museum Children’s Museum theatre. Cheyenne Griffin does a few dance steps on the stage in the Will Rogers Children’s Museum.      An obvious favorite spot is the Children’s Museum, where Roosa kids took turns putting on costumes in the dressing room and leaping across the stage in their dance steps.      The interactive gallery allows children to experience Will’s school days, radio and writing career and stage and screen days.      When they left they knew not only where Will Rogers was born and died, but in their own “Will Rogers Museum Scavenger Hunt,” they learned the name of his favorite horse (Soapsuds), the name of his first school (Drumgoole), listed five of his careers and their own favorite Will Rogers quotation. Kory Hancock and Cara Pestle take a break to work on their scavenger hunt questions during a visit to Will Rogers Museum. Audrey Elliott, Trent Hurst and Zachary Yates were impressed with Will Roger saddle collection in the Will Rogers Museum entry.      The scavenger hunt would be a good way to entertain children during the summer while school is out. Movies are showing in several of the museum galleries and the Children’s Museum is a treat. (Will Rogers Museum Scavenger Hunt appears at the end of this story.) Will Rogers Memorial Commission Director Michelle Lefebvre-Carter with Sandy McNaughton and Jan Miller. International Museums Day was celebrated in Oologah with unveiling and relocation of a sign road leading to the Birthplace Ranch.      The historical marker, first erected by Friends of Will Rogers, gives directions to the birthplace ranch and s near the model of the birthplace at the entry to Oologah’s historic downtown on Cooweescoowee.      Will Rogers said: “There ought to be a law against anybody going to Europe till they have seen the things we have in this country.”      He suggested in one of his writings: “When you are visiting beauty spots of this country, don’t overlook Frank Phillips ranch and game preserve in Bartlesville, Okla. It is the most unique place in the country.”      When he wrote these things, Will Rogers could not have imagined the site he chose for his retirement home and his birthplace would become an Oklahoma tourism treasure and destination for people around the world.      Will Rogers Museum and the Birthplace Ranch joined museums, tribal cultural centers, historical societies and historical sites statewide to celebrate “Oklahoma’s Museums: Treasurers of the Sooner State” in recognition of Oklahoma Museums Week..      The Will Rogers Museum in Claremore was dedicated in 1938, the birthplace ranch opened as a museum after the house was moved from the original site in 1961 making way for Oologah Lake. An era-correct barn, built by Amish carpenters, was added in 1993.      The ranch site has eight RV sites and 2,000 foot grass airstrip.      The museums are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Admission is by donation.      Gov. Brad Henry has proclaimed Oklahoma Museums Week as a time for communities to recognize local museums and contributions they make to preserve Oklahoma’s rich history and culture. The week is sponsored by the Oklahoma Museums Association and Oklahoma Arts Council.      “With over 300 facilities in the state, museums play a major role in offering Oklahomans a wonderful variety of places to visit and incredible treasurers to see,” said Cherie Cook, Oklahoma Museums Association executive director.      “These facilities are also important centers of education and preservation of community history and culture and, as a result, make great contributions not only to their communities but the entire state.”

Will Rogers Museum Scavenger Hunt      • What did Will Rogers collect? (Hint: He had a miniature collection of these.)      • When and where was Will Rogers born (include name of the ranch)?      • How, when and where did Will Rogers die?      • Who was Will’s best friend?      • What was Will Rogers’ nickname?      • What is the name of Will Rogers’ favorite horse?      • Will Rogers was a member of what Indian tribe?      • What is the name of the first school Will Rogers attended and where is it located?      • Will Rogers had many careers during his lifetime.