Claremore in Rogers County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Main Street of America

U.S. 66 - Will Rogers Highway

— Chicago to Los Angeles —

Will Rogers Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 20, 2013

1. Will Rogers Marker

Inscription.
Will Rogers launched a journey into international fame, historic greatness and galloping humor along this frontier cattle trail that grew into Route 66 of motorized America.
Born on a ranch in 1879 twelve miles NW of here, Will Rogers finished his life's journey in 1935 and rests eternally in a hillside tomb one mile due west from here.
As surely as trail dust yielded to concrete and Route 66, Will Rogers credo of brotherhood surely was a message for all time. He said, "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like."
From the stage, screen, newspaper pages and electronic air waves, Will Rogers' message of tolerance and understanding was one of greatness, outreach and adventure that was captured in the spirit and paved in the legacy of Route 66.
This monument symbolizes the greatness of the man and his memorial that is etched in the history of Route 66.
U.S. Highway 66 opened November 11, 1926.
Named "Will Rogers Highway" in 1936.

Erected 2001 by the Citizens of Claremore.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Native Americans

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• Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 11, 1927.

Location. 36° 18.882′ N, 95° 36.897′ W. Marker is in Claremore, Oklahoma, in Rogers County. Marker is at the intersection of Lynn Riggs Boulevard (State Highway 66) and 5th Street, on the right when traveling south on Lynn Riggs Boulevard. Marker is adjacent to the J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 330 North J M Davis Boulevard, Claremore OK 74017, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. US Army M-41 "Walker Bulldog" Light Tank (a few steps from this marker); Howdy Folks (approx. one mile away); Will Rogers (approx. one mile away); Will Rogers Redbud (approx. one mile away); Will Rogers Memorial (approx. one mile away); Oklahoma Military Academy War Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Oklahoma Military Academy Killed in Action Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); George Washington (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Claremore.

Regarding Main Street of America. U.S. Route 66 was well-known as the Main Street of America, or the Mother Road, but not Will Rogers Highway.

Will Rogers Marker Sponsors image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 20, 2013

2. Will Rogers Marker Sponsors

A congressional resolution to name Route 66 in honor of Will Rogers was considered in 1935 but was not finalized. In 1952, a number of bronze markers were placed to promote the Warner Brothers film "The Will Rogers Story". The U.S. 66 Highway Associaton, Ford Motor Company, and Warner Brothers took part in the promotion. A caravan drove along Route 66 from St. Louis to Santa Monica placing markers at each state line declaring the name Will Rogers Highway. It was only a movie promotion, not an actual re-naming of the highway.

Also see . . .
1. Will Rogers Memorial Museums. Website homepage (Submitted on August 18, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 8, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. The Official Website of Will Rogers. Website homepage (Submitted on August 18, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 20, 2013

3. Will Rogers Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 605 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 18, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.