Rendering by Snøhetta
As America marks its 250th anniversary, North Dakota will celebrate a milestone of its own with the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library July 4 in Medora.
Built within the buttes of the Badlands, the library showcases Theodore Roosevelt's character and vision, and tells the story of the nation’s 26th president who influenced conservation, preservation of public lands and true American leadership.
Roosevelt often said he would not have become president had it not been for his experiences in North Dakota. Distraught following the deaths of both his wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt, and his mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, on the same day – Feb. 14, 1884 – he sought refuge and came to Dakota Territory. Living among cowboys, hunters and ranchers, and the rugged landscape, Roosevelt began to heal and find his life’s purpose.
The new facility combines history, technology and the natural landscape to create a unique visitor experience. Guests will explore interactive exhibits featuring artificial intelligence, holograms and multimedia displays designed to bring Roosevelt's life and legacy to life for a new generation.
Opening day begins with a formal dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting before the museum welcomes the public for the first time. In the evening, the skies light up with “Eyes on the Stars: Theodore Roosevelt and the American West,” a large-scale drone show.
The library is expected to draw visitors from around the world.
As we celebrate our nation and its independence, the library reminds us within the nation’s story, some of its finest chapters were written in the Badlands of North Dakota.
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Clarice Kesler is the communications director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, leading strategic communications including North Dakota Living, digital communications and media relations. She can be reached at ckesler@ndarec.com.
