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CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT

AND THE ROUGH RIDERS!

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June marks the anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s remarkable service with the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. On June 14, they embarked from Tampa, Florida, and by June 22, they landed at Daiquiri, Cuba. Just two days later, they were in the heat of battle at Las Guasimas. By June 30, TR had become Colonel, and on July 1, he led the historic charges on Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill.
Kurz & Allison. Rough-Riders, Col. Theodore Roosevelt, U.S.V. Commander.
…  Courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. 

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Theodore Roosevelt’s Time in the Badlands
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🦬 Roosevelt first came out to what was then Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt a bison, unaware of how this hunting trip would change his life. He fell in love with frontier life and invested in the Maltese Cross (Chimney Butte) Ranch during this trip.
 
💔 Roosevelt returned to the Badlands in June 1884 to heal after the loss of his wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt, and his mother, Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt, and established Elkhorn Ranch, further away from town.
 
🐂 For fifteen years, Roosevelt owned cattle in the Badlands, selling his remaining cattle interests to Sylvane M. Ferris in late summer 1898 after returning home from the Spanish-American War.
 
🤠 Even so, Roosevelt always fondly remembered his time in North Dakota, saying in 1900 to a crowd in Medora, 
“I may say that here, boys, in this country of hills and plateaus, the romance of my life began.”
 
🌱 Today North Dakota’s Badlands are known as the “cradle of conservation,” thanks to the impact the area had on shaping Roosevelt’s passion for conservation of both animals and habitats.🏕 At the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, we look to welcoming visitors into our galleries that will highlight experiences from all of Theodore Roosevelt’s life and presidency, but most importantly the Badlands that we hope will inspire you as much as they inspired TR! 

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Come join us in 2026!

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View of the site, Madora, North Dakota / June 2024

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Discover how the Native Plants Project at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is bringing Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy to life! In collaboration with North Dakota State University and the Hettinger Research Extension Center (HREC), this initiative is cultivating over 60,000 native seedlings for the Library’s living prairie roof and other restoration efforts near Medora, ND.

Dr. Ben Geaumont and his team are hard at work, turning locally collected seeds into thriving plants that reflect the biodiversity of the Dakota grasslands Roosevelt loved. This effort isn’t just about landscaping; it’s about restoring ecological balance and creating sustainable opportunities for the future.

“By collaborating with the library and contractors, Dr. Geaumont is not only growing local genetic material that is not commercially available elsewhere but also cultivating a lasting legacy of sustainability and ecological balance,” said Amy McCann, Community Relations Director.

📖 Read more about this inspiring project and its potential to shape conservation and agriculture across the region.

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We’re building more than a library—we’re cultivating a legacy rooted in Roosevelt’s call to service, conservation, and civic leadership.

As Roosevelt reminded us, 

“It is not the critic who counts… the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”

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Snøhetta / Architectural Firm 

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The vision is becoming reality.

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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY / 2025

As fireworks light up the sky and communities across America come together in celebration, we wish you a joyful and meaningful Independence Day. Today, we honor the enduring spirit of freedom, civic duty, and resilience that define our nation—and that Theodore Roosevelt so powerfully embodied.

This year’s celebration carries special significance: we are now just one year away from opening the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota—on July 4, 2026—America’s 250th birthday.

Roosevelt believed that true patriotism meant more than flag-waving—it meant taking part in the great American experiment. “We must dare to be great,”he once declared,“and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.” That same spirit of active citizenship fuels everything we do at TRPL. 

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— Quote from ‘Roosevelt Fires First Campaign Gun / Magnificent Ovation at Carnegie Hall’,
October 6, 1898 / New York Times. Illustration by Carter, from Pulitzer’s The World | BULLY pages 427 – 441.

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Our Library is not just a monument to a president—it’s a call to action for every visitor. A place to be inspired by the past, challenged in the present, and motivated to shape the future. One year from now, guests will walk into a living institution that honors the landscape that shaped Roosevelt’s character and the values that still guide us today.

As we count down to July 4, 2026, we invite you to join us in this journey.

Together, we’ll step “into the arena”—and help write the next chapter of our shared American story.

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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY / 2026

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The Shop is Open
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Our online Shop is live — and as a Founding Member, you are getting first word.

The collection is thoughtfully curated, inspired by T.R.’s spirit of exploration and conservation. Every item is intentionally designed and carries the legacy forward — drawing from archival influence while staying rooted in practical, modern use.

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TRPL website now features a new Video Portal, bringing together the Library’s growing collection of digital content in one place. This centralized hub includes virtual programs, construction updates, media appearances, historical footage of Theodore Roosevelt, documentaries, lectures, and symposium recordings.

Designed as an ongoing resource, the Video Portal allows visitors to engage with the Library’s content from anywhere—before, during, and after their visit. It reflects the Library’s broader approach to storytelling: extending beyond the building to create access to ideas, conversations, and history over time.