DO YOU KNOW THE TWO MOST FAMOUS CHEROKEES WHO RESIDE IN WASHINGTON, DC?

They are Sequoyah, b 1770, Tennessee and William Penn Adair Rogers, b November 4, 1879, Oologa/Claremore, OK. That’s right; their statues are located in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U. S. National Capitol Building. 

Sequoyah’s Bronze Statue by artist Vinnie Ream (completed by G Julian Zolnay) was given by Oklahoma in 1917. It is located in the Capitol Building Rotunda, honoring Sequoyah’s amazing accomplishment in creating the Cherokee written syllabary, which was adopted and is used to this day by Cherokee peoples. This work took Sequoyah between 10 and 12 years to complete. Sequoyah endured ridicule and shaming. In spite of this, he persevered and is regarded as our first most famous Cherokee.

Will Rogers’ Bronze Statue is by artist Jo Davidson. Soon after Will Rogers’ death on August 15, 1935, Oklahoma passed a bill authorizing its second statue to the National Statuary Hall Collection. It was installed in 1938. It is located in the House Wing in front of the connecting corridor on the 2nd floor. It is said that rubbing Will’s foot is good luck. Two casts were made, and the second identical statue is located in the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore Oklahoma. Will Rogers State Historic Park, home and museum was donated to California by Will’s widow Betty in 1944. Located in Santa Monica, California, it is open to the public and sits in the hills above Will Rogers State Beach. My son, Michael, and I visited and picnicked on the beautiful grounds frequently in the 1970s. Will Rogers was a National celebrity. He was a cowboy, a humorist, an entertainer and philanthropist. In vaudeville he was known as the “Cherokee Kid”. He became a star in movies and radio. Will wrote daily humorous columns for over 100 newspapers. 

There are numerous statues and images honoring both Sequoyah and Will Rogers in different cities and states. Have fun researching or planning interesting, fun trips visiting these sites. 

These two men make me Proud to be Cherokee.
--Mike Webb

Photo source: Architect of the Capitol