The Dog Iron Ranch, located about two miles east of
Oologah, Oklahoma
Oologah is a town in Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. Renowned humorist Will Rogers was born on a ranch two miles east of Oologah, although he usually claimed Claremore as his birthplace ''"because nobody but an Indian can pronounce 'Oolog ...
, USA, is the historic ranch and birthplace of humorist
Will Rogers
William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...
. It was donated to the state of Oklahoma by the Rogers family. The current property comprises of the original 60,000 acre (240 km
2) ranch operated by
Clem Rogers, Will's father. Originally the ranch contained up to 10,000 Texas Longhorn cattle. The present ranch has 50 Longhorns.
History
The house was constructed in 1875 by Clem Rogers, who lived there until his wife died in 1890. His son Will was born on November 4, 1879. It is a two-story
Greek Revival
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...
style building. The first floor is constructed of native oak, hickory and walnut logs. It measures by , covering an area of . Originally the two front rooms were each by were separated by a
dog trot, that was later enclosed to make a foyer. The downstairs rooms were used as a parlor and a master bedroom that also served as Clem Rogers' office. A lean-to addition comprised the kitchen, dining room and a spare bedroom. The upstairs part over the "front rooms"contained two more bedrooms.
Clem Rogers was highly influential in local politics. Thus, the house served not only as a family residence, but represented a seat of local political power. It was often called "The White House on the Verdigris."
The present barn was erected July 17, 1993 by two dozen
Amish
The Amish (; pdc, Amisch; german: link=no, Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian origins. They are closely related to Mennonite churches ...
carpenters who knew the traditional notch and peg type of construction that was commonly employed in the 19th Century. However, the peak roof is covered with asphalt shingles instead of wooden shakes for greater fire safety. The new barn is by , instead of by for economic reasons. The original barn and possibly two replacements had been destroyed by wildfires. The current barn not only has traditional stalls, it now includes a classroom area that is also usable as an eating area.
The house where Will Rogers was born was moved about a mile
in the 1960s to its present site on the ranch due to construction of nearby
Lake Oologah.
On March 7, 2016, Governor
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin (; née Copeland; born December 9, 1954) is an American politician who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She was the first and s ...
signed Senate Bill 1570 into law, which put the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, which governed both the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Dog Iron Ranch, under the control of the
Oklahoma Historical Society
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma dedicated to promotion and preservation of Oklahoma's history and its people by collecting, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge and artifacts of Oklahoma. ...
. The new law became effective immediately.
["Will Rogers Memorial Commission Transferred To Oklahoma Historical Society." News on 6. March 7, 2016.](_blank)
Accessed April 9, 2016.
The ranch is open to visitors daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is by voluntary contributions.
The property known as Will Rogers Ranch in
Pacific Palisades was purchased by the actor in the early 1930s after Rogers moved to
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. It became the
Will Rogers State Historic Park
Will Rogers State Historic Park is the former estate of American humorist Will Rogers. It lies in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, in the Pacific Palisades area.
Geography
In what is now the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisade ...
(a California State Park) in 1944.
Footnotes
See also
*
Will Rogers Memorial
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a museum in Claremore, Oklahoma that memorializes entertainer Will Rogers. The museum houses artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and manuscripts pertaining to Rogers' life, and documentaries, speeches, and mo ...
References
External links
Will Rogers Birthplace (Dog Iron Ranch)Will Rogers Birthplace (Dog Iron Ranch) information, photos and video on TravelOK.comOfficial travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
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Ranches in Oklahoma
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma
Historic house museums in Oklahoma
Museums in Rogers County, Oklahoma
Biographical museums in Oklahoma
Literary museums in the United States
Houses in Rogers County, Oklahoma
National Register of Historic Places in Rogers County, Oklahoma