Where there’s a Will, there’s a way — to adventures along Route 66.
Individuals and families are encouraged to take cultural icon and Oklahoma native Will Rogers with them, in a sense, as they travel the historic roadway as part of the Flat Will project recently launched by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
Flat Will is a colorful cardstock cutout of the late humorist, media pioneer, entertainer and world-renowned trick roper that was designed by Cherokee artist Tom Farris, of Norman. The Flat Will project is similar to Flat Stanley, an educational project based on the “Flat Stanley” book series, which encourages students to create paper versions of the character Flat Stanley, and send them on adventures to learn about things like different cultures and geography.
Rhys Martin, Oklahoma Route 66 Association president, said his organization envisioned Flat Will as an interactive and fun way for people of all generations to honor Oklahoma’s Favorite Son and take him on new adventures, in time for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
Martin said the association is encouraging travelers to take selfies with Flat Will and post them on social media channels, using the #FlatWill hashtag so that people around the globe may see where he’s been.
More: Traveling Route 66? Here are 13 stops to make in Oklahoma along the way
The association received a donation to make Flat Will available to the public for free at three locations: the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63; the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore; and the Anna Mitchell Cultural Center in Vinita.
Martin said Flat Will may also be ordered from theOklahoma Route 66 Association’s website for the cost of shipping, while supplies last. He said schools and other groups interested in getting more than a couple of Flat Wills, are encouraged to reach out to the association.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has launched Flat Will, an interactive way for people to honor Oklahoma’s favorite son Will Rogers and take him on new adventures, just in time for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026. Flat Will was designed by Cherokee artist Tom Farris of Norman.
Famous traveler, famous road
The Flat Will project honors by Rogers and Route 66 in various ways, starting with the Farris’ design.
The artist said he wanted to capture Rogers’ iconic look with a nod to his Cherokee roots. Along those lines, Flat Will’s chaps seven-pointed stars down the side, which represent the traditional clans of the Cherokee Nation.
Martin said Rogers was well-known, “from rodeo to radio, from vaudeville to Hollywood, and in newspapers across the country as a familiar voice that people welcomed into their lives.”
People knew Rogers around the globe and most certainly, people in his native state knew him as a larger-than-life figure who also seemed down to earth.
“Most people in Oklahoma know who Will Rogers is by name,” Martin said.
“There’s just this general awareness people still feel like in a way they kind of know who Will was as a person. And, now you get to take him on the road, so it’s almost like taking a family member with you.”
Martin said Rogers embraced travel and adventure and Route 66 has always had both.
“His wit and wisdom brought people together across thousands of miles, regardless of background or circumstance,” Martin said. “Route 66 served a similar purpose, connecting communities and becoming something bigger than itself.”
He said that’s why the highway was given the nickname “The Will Rogers Highway” and Jennifer Rogers, Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter said Route 66 was rededicated as the “Will Rogers Memorial Highway” in 1952.
“As we embark on the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road, I will be one of the first to take my Flat Will on an adventure from my home in Claremore, Oklahoma, to visit friends and family in my native state of California,” Jennifer Rogers said in a news release.
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Tad Jones, executive director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, said Flat Will is a wonderful way for travelers to honor Will Rogers’ legacy, while they have fun and support the Route 66 centennial.
Martin said in his own travels, he’s become aware of other famous Americans with their own versions of the “flat” traveler. He said there is a “Flat Lincoln” through the “Journey through Springfield with Flat Lincoln” program in Illinois that is similar to Flat Will. “Flat Lincoln” is a campaign by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum designed to encourage visitors to create their own “Flat Lincoln” figures and document their travels through Springfield’s Lincoln-related sites.
Martin said Flat Will is already proving to be popular among Route 66 enthusiasts, judging from the number of people who are requesting that the association send them several of the cutouts. He said he can envision the need for another donor to help print more of them for Route 66 travelers and enthusiasts.
Flat Will has been designated as Route 66 Centennial Certified. This designation was made through the Route 66 Centennial Certification Program, an official Route 66 Centennial Activity recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission.
To learn more
For more information about Flat Will and how to get one, go to www.rogers66.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Route 66 Association launches project honoring Will Rogers