OHS EXTRA! - "She's a beautiful day..."

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 08/04/2021 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

August 4, 2021

Will Rogers and Wiley Post to be honored with Fly-In at Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch

On Saturday, August 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., aviation enthusiasts will gather for the annual Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In. The event will mark 86 years since Will Rogers and Wiley Post died in an Alaska plane crash. To honor their memory, pilots of small planes will land on a 2,000-foot grass strip at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, adjacent to the home where Rogers was born in 1879.

The Fly-In is an opportunity for the public to get an up-close look at vintage and late-model small aircraft and visit with the pilots. Pilots come from a four-state area to showcase their planes and renew friendships from previous years. Come early to see the first aircraft land, and stay until 1:30 p.m. for all the festivities.

Special activities are planned for children and families that will include Cherokee storytelling, a classic car show, and tours of the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch and the Amish-built barn located on the property. Reenactors portraying Will Rogers and Wiley Post will be a part of the festivities. Admission is free, and ample parking is available on the grounds. This event is sponsored by the Cherokee Nation.

Also on August 14, a National Day of Remembrance will be held as a Facebook Live Event at 10 a.m. This ceremony will mark the tragic loss of the lives of Will Rogers and Wiley Post. The service will also honor all those who have lost their lives in small airplane crashes. This event can be accessed on the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch Facebook page.

children being pulled on small train cars

"She's a beautiful day..."

For this event, a special commemorative lapel pin featuring an image of Will Rogers will be given as a free gift to family members who have lost a loved one in a small plane accident. Inscribed on the pin is the Will Rogers quote, “She’s a beautiful day and we are flying high.” Those interested can email wrinfo@willrogers.com to request a pin.

Wreath-laying ceremony and flyover at Will Rogers Memorial Museum

On Friday, August 13, at noon the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a wreath-laying ceremony and flyover to mark the anniversary of the August 15, 1935, death of Will Rogers and Wiley Post in an Alaskan plane crash. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Herb McSpadden—relatives of Will Rogers who ran the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch—are invited guests. Pilot and museum Roper docent Tom Egbert will fly the plane for the flyover. The public is welcome to join in viewing the flyover and the wreath-laying, which will take place at the site of Will Rogers’s tomb overlooking the town of Claremore.

Lassoing the life of Will Rogers

An important online exhibit, One Life: Will Rogers, is currently being featured on the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's (NPG) website. The exhibit is accompanied by a special recording of the NPG podcast Portraits: Real People, Real Stories.

In the Portraits episode "Will Rogers: Removing the Sting", director of the NPG Kim Sajet and the exhibit's curator Jim Barber explore the stories behind some of the images in the exhibit. Listeners can learn more about the exceptional life of the beloved Oklahoma humorist, author, and cowboy philosopher whose political and social comments find uncanny relevance today.

poster for Will Rogers Follies Broadway cast

Movie Night in Claremore

Join in the fun on Friday, August 27, when the filmed version of the Broadway musical The Will Rogers Follies (1991) will be shown at Will Rogers Theatre—located inside Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Admission to the 7 p.m. show is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance because of limited seating. Please call 918-343-8113 to reserve your ticket for this upcoming event.

How to search The Gateway to Oklahoma History

The Gateway to Oklahoma History is an online repository of our state’s history—available for free at gateway.okhistory.org. This digital portal has millions of files to search through and multiple ways to view and sort search results.

The Oklahoma Historical Society has created a new video full of tips and tricks to search for photographs, newspapers, maps, documents, books, and other resources on The Gateway. To watch the instructional video and learn how to view, share, download, and print images directly from The Gateway to Oklahoma History, click the picture above or the button below.

Watch the instructional video

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

Per CDC guidance, we recommend that visitors who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination wear face masks and maintain social distancing in indoor public areas. All visitors, staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors should continue to use appropriate handwashing techniques.

We ask that you avoid visiting OHS museums, sites, and affiliates if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell.