Not all presidents are created equal, nor are their namesake libraries. Construction continues in Medora, North Dakota, where the charming town plans to welcome the world to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library on July 4, 2026, America’s 250th anniversary. What is unique about this library, and why should you care?
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Education and Inspiration
The role of Presidential Libraries and Museums is to promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience. It is essential to note these are not lending libraries but a place to store each administration’s papers, documents, and historical records. Guests can experience historical artifacts and materials through exhibits that educate and inspire.
When Did the Presidential Library System Start?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the concept of the Presidential Library in the late 1930s. A non-profit organization raised private funds for its construction, and Congress passed a joint resolution to operate it as part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Subsequent libraries have followed this model.
Since Theodore Roosevelt was president from 1901 to 1909, who suggested his library? Clay Jenkinson, a renowned Theodore Roosevelt biographer, is credited with the idea. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation (TRPLF) was formed shortly after in 2014.
Presidential Libraries Outside of NARA
Matt Briney, Chief Communications Officer at Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library says, “NARA has operated 16 libraries since Herbert Hoover.”
Thirteen libraries have been completed, with the latest being for President George W. Bush. The library for President Barack Obama is in development. Plans for the libraries of Presidents Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden have yet to be announced.
Briney continues, “Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to receive a Presidential Library. These libraries are funded as an extension of the National Archives. There are many libraries outside of the system, such as Lincoln, Washington, Wilson, McKinley, Polk, etc. They are typically established by a private organization or state historical society.
“The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will operate as a private foundation. It will serve as a museum, lecture and event space, a conservation space, and we will have education classrooms. We are a limited collecting organization; most of Theodore Roosevelt’s papers are safely held at Harvard or the Library of Congress. Instead, ours will be an entirely digital library with a focus on research using artificial intelligence and creating educational materials, teacher professional development, and fostering scholarship about Theodore Roosevelt and his world.”
Why North Dakota?
Traditionally, presidential libraries are built in the president’s home state. Although Roosevelt was born in New York, Briney says, “The library was always thought of as being in North Dakota.” Theodore Roosevelt stated he would not have served as president had it not been for his time in North Dakota’s Badlands.
Briney remarks, “North Dakota is where Theodore Roosevelt comes to deal with the loss of his wife and mother on the same day, in the same house. He comes to North Dakota to live the strenuous life and in doing so finds the fortitude to become president and to be a leader in conservation. Theodore Roosevelt’s family home, Sagamore Hill, in New York, is of course, another great way to honor his legacy. But the library, being in the Badlands, overlooking the national park named after him, the only national park to be given that recognition, we feel is a fitting place to build a library.”
Medora Magic
The quaint town of Medora has a year-round population of just over 100 and a summer travel season population of over 500. It is the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit and home of the Medora Musical.
Medora is the perfect place to stay when visiting the park. The town may be small, but it has a big heart and friendly people. It feels like a return to the Old West, providing an unparalleled experience. A visit to Medora is incomplete without seeing the Medora Musical, a live variety act that honors the town’s history, the American spirit, and Theodore Roosevelt.
When the library opens, Medora will be the hub for three primary attractions. Briney says, “The TRPLF once considered establishing the library downtown, but this would have changed the feel and atmosphere of Medora. The site chosen, on the butte by the Medora Musical site, provides a perfect opportunity to showcase the beauty of the Badlands, provide enough space to construct a world-class museum and library, and preserve the historic nature and charm of downtown Medora.”
Unique in Every Way
The TRPLF strives to create an extraordinary experience with the massive project, which has been a decade in the making. While most presidential libraries capture history, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, designed by world-renowned architect Snøhetta, is a museum of the future, utilizing interactive technologies to inspire action in the real world.
Briney comments, “Our location is certainly going to be unique, overlooking Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The building will also be very unique. We are striving to achieve the Living Building Challenge, of which there are currently only 26 projects worldwide that have achieved this. We will use zero energy, zero water, zero waste, and zero emissions.”
Sustainability is a critical focus. Briney says, “The site will produce 105% of its energy through solar and geothermal. We have a native plants project that will restore 85 native species back to our landscape. The building is using sustainable building materials and leading energy-saving technologies to ensure we are being good stewards to the land around us.”
A Delicate Balancing Act
Briney acknowledges the challenges of a small town with historical charm taking on another tourist attraction. He remarks, “Theodore Roosevelt National Park annually receives nearly 600,000 visitors. Medora sees nearly a quarter of a million visitors per year. Most of these guests come in the summer months.
“We anticipate many visitors to the library will overlap with the existing visitors of Medora. We will attract new types of visitors to Medora and are working closely with the local community, Billings County, and surrounding municipalities to find ways to smartly grow visitation without impacting the charm, historical nature, and family atmosphere that Medora offers.”
A Monumental Celebration
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library plans to open on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. With such an ambitious goal, is the project on target?
Briney says, “This is currently on target. We are in the early stages of planning the grand opening, but you can imagine it will have all of the fanfare that Theodore Roosevelt would come to expect and will be done in a responsible manner with our community partners.”
It’s never too early to make your 2026 travel plans. Medora is staking its claim as a tourist hotspot chock full of natural beauty and American history. The unique Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library adds to Medora’s allure.
Featured image credit: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library/Snøhetta
