Celebrate ‘The Cherokee Kid’ on August 15

Will Rogers spent his last summer in Oologah in 1906. He returned to the downtown pump 89 years later as “The Cherokee Kid” statute on August 12, 1995.

On Saturday, August 15, walk through the past as we observe the 25th anniversary of “The Cherokee Kid” and the restoration of Historic Downtown Oolagah, which began in 1984 under the vision of Wanda Sanders.

The downtown walking tour is from 5 to 7 p.m. The Oolagah Historical Museum at 202 W. Cooweescoowee Ave. will be open, and other historic buildings may be open, depending on COVID-19 status. Plan to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.

Other events that day will include the Will Rogers/Wiley Post Fly-in at the Birthplace Ranch from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The ranch is located on 380 Road two miles east of US-169.

The Chamber plans downtown activities for children in the afternoon if health precautions allow.

As a teenager, Will rode into town and took advantage of an artesian well in the center of downtown. In fact, he met his wife, Betty, at the Oologah train station, and they married in 1908.

The Society has a limited-edition mug for the event, and a commemorative shirt will be available at the fly-in and Will Rogers Memorial gift shop.

If we are closed because of COVID-19, the event will become a driving tour. A brochure describing the buildings and their histories will be available.