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Building History

A press release of the California State Parks.gov said of the Will Rogers House in 2025: "In the mid-1930s, Will Rogers was one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Hollywood and “America’s most beloved citizen.” From his start in vaudeville theaters with a trick roping act, he rose to worldwide fame as a columnist, “cowboy philosopher,” aviation enthusiast, philanthropist, radio personality and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica where he developed a ranch. Eventually, Will Rogers owned about 359 acres in what is now known as Pacific Palisades, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. At the time of his death in a plane crash in 1935, his ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house with neighboring guest housing, a stable, corrals, golf course and riding trails. His widow, Betty, donated the ranch to State Parks in 1944 and it became a historic park." (See California State Parks.gov, "Palisades Fire Destroys Historic Homes and Buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park," published 01/08/2025, accessed 01/10/2025.)

A portion of the Rogers Estate later accommodated the Charles and Ray Eames House, finished in 1949.

Building Notes

Originally, this house was conceived of as a vacation house, but, over time and many additions, it became (in 1928) the primary residence for the "Cowboy Philosopher" and his family;

Alterations

Additions were made to the house in 1928 to enable it to be used for year-around habitation; according to Gebhard and Winter (1994), Rogers had the roof line raised in the living room to accommodate his performance of rope tricks in 1933;

Demolition

The Will Rogers House and thirty other structures were destroyed at the Topanga State Park and Will Rogers Historic State Park in the Pacific Palisades Fire of the week of 01/06/2025.

PCAD id: 4053