When Los Angeles native Iyshia Majors decided to trade the bustling Southern California coastline for a new chapter in northeastern Oklahoma, she likely did not expect that one of her earliest cultural immersions would involve spending an entire night locked inside a historic institution. Yet, an all-night stay at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum provided her with an unconventional introduction to the historical roots of the region she now calls home.
Majors was among a select group of participants who attended "Up Late with Will Rogers: An All-Nighter for Grown-ups," a unique overnight gathering organized by the memorial museum located in Claremore. The adult sleepover granted guests an immersive, after-hours look into the life and legacy of one of the state’s most beloved humorists, actors, and public figures.
Majors’ journey to the Sooner State began in February 2026, when she officially relocated to Tulsa after being accepted into the Tulsa Remote initiative. Leaving behind the familiar urban expanse of Los Angeles, she joined a growing wave of professionals seeking new opportunities and fresh perspectives in Oklahoma.
The Tulsa Remote program operates with a distinct mission: to recruit, welcome, and retain talented remote workers from across the nation to settle in Tulsa. Designed to stimulate the local community and diversify the workforce, the program requires successful applicants to move to the city, providing each accepted individual with a $10,000 incentive grant to support their transition.
Although the overnight event marked Majors’ very first trip to the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, the name and memory of Will Rogers were already deeply familiar to her. Back in California, she had previously visited the Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades, a landmark preserving the late performer’s West Coast ranch.
Upon learning about the dedicated memorial museum in Claremore, Majors found an immediate point of connection between her past home in California and her new surroundings. The realization that Rogers held deep roots in Oklahoma helped bring his story full circle in her mind, establishing an unexpected bridge between the two states.
Majors did not originally set out to spend an evening in a museum; rather, she came across the opportunity entirely by chance while conducting online research about recreational lakes in the surrounding area. While browsing digital resources to get acquainted with local outdoor activities, an advertisement caught her attention.
The online notice highlighted an after-hours museum gathering, piquing Majors' curiosity with its promise of a late-night adventure. After investigating the schedule and discovering that the institution was organizing a full overnight sleepover tailored for adults, she decided to sign up and experience the museum firsthand.
The itinerary for the overnight stay offered attendees a lively mix of entertainment, education, and cultural traditions. Throughout the evening, participants received hands-on lessons in western rope tricks and learned the steps of classic two-step dancing, blending historical celebration with active engagement.
In addition to physical demonstrations, the gathering allowed guests to take exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the museum’s facilities, prepare traditional fireside s'mores, and explore deep archival insights into Will Rogers’ diverse career and enduring impact on American culture.
Reflecting on the experience, Majors expressed great appreciation for the quality of the programming and the depth of regional heritage preserved within the facility. She noted how thoroughly impressed she was not only by the extensive historical narrative surrounding Will Rogers himself, but also by the broader historical character of the town of Claremore.
For Majors, the overnight event served as another pleasant confirmation that her new life in Oklahoma had surpassed her initial expectations. Prior to her relocation, she had envisioned the state as predominantly rural, an assumption that quickly shifted upon experiencing the vibrancy of the area.
Since arriving in February, Majors has been deeply struck by the friendliness and warmth of the local residents. She described Tulsa as possessing the distinct charm of a "little big city," combining modern urban amenities and community closeness in a way that has made her transition particularly welcoming.
Having embraced both the rich historical heritage of Claremore and the everyday life of the Tulsa metro area, Majors remains eager to continue discovering what Oklahoma has to offer. With an open mind and a growing fondness for the state, the California transplant looks ahead to uncovering more local treasures as she continues her journey in her adopted home.
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