Will Rogers Memorial Center facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Will Rogers Memorial Center
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Will Rogers Tower and Auditorium in 1993
Will Rogers Memorial Center Location in Texas Show map of Texas Will Rogers Memorial Center Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas United States
Area	120 acres (49 ha)
Built	1936 (1936)
Architect	Wyatt C. Hedrick, Herman Koeppe, Elmer G. Withers
Architectural style	Modern Movement, Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	16000122
Added to NRHP	March 22, 2016

The Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) is an 120-acre (0.49 km²) American public entertainment, sports and livestock complex located in Fort Worth, Texas. It is named for American humorist and writer Will Rogers. It is the home of the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. It is a popular location for the hosting of specialized equestrian and livestock shows, including the annual National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity, World Championship Paint Horse Show, and 3 major events of the National Cutting Horse Association each year. It is also the former home of the Fort Worth Texans ice hockey team. Events at the WRMC attract over 2 million visitors annually. The complex contains the following facilities:

• Will Rogers Coliseum (5,652 seats)
• Will Rogers Auditorium (2,856 seats)
• Will Rogers Equestrian Center
• Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall
• James L. & Eunice West Arena
• John Justin Arena
• W. R. Watt Arena

The Memorial Center was built in 1936 and designed by architect Wyatt C. Hedrick, who employed the Moderne (Art Deco) style. Also in 1936 Amon G. Carter commissioned Electra Waggoner Biggs to create the statue Riding into the Sunset, a tribute to Will Rogers and his horse Soapsuds. Over a decade later, in 1947, the work was unveiled at the Center. On March 22, 2016, the complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Dickies Arena, which opened in November 2019, is located adjacent to the complex. The new 14,000-seat venue will host the Fort Worth Stock Show rodeos, concerts and early-round games in the 2022 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament; however, Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum will continue to operate as an equestrian arena in Fort Worth.

Gallery

• 

  Postcard of [Will Rogers] Coliseum, Memorial [Pioneer] Tower and [Will Rogers] Auditorium, undated

• 

  Interior of Will Rogers Coliseum, 2016

• 

  Exterior of Will Rogers Coliseum, 2016