The highly anticipated Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is making headlines for its ambitious location in the remote North Dakota Badlands, a site chosen for its profound connection to the 26th president’s transformative years. Slated to open on America’s 250th anniversary, July 4, 2026, the project is a “calculated risk” that seeks to draw visitors by offering an authentic, immersive historical experience far from urban centers, while also committing to a nuanced portrayal of Roosevelt’s complex legacy.
In a bold move that challenges traditional museum placement, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is taking shape amidst the rugged beauty of western North Dakota’s Badlands. This location is not arbitrary; it’s the very landscape where the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, found solace and regained his “romance of living” during extended trips in the 1880s following the devastating deaths of his young wife and mother. The decision to build a significant national institution so far from major population centers is openly acknowledged as a “calculated risk” by its developers, a gamble they believe will pay off due to the area’s unique historical resonance and natural allure.
A Landscape Integral to Roosevelt’s Legacy
The library’s design itself is a testament to its location, with Foundation CEO Ed O’Keefe stating, “We like to say that the library is the landscape.” The nearly 100,000-square-foot facility near Medora, North Dakota, is engineered to blend seamlessly with its environment. It rises from the top of a butte, featuring a sloping roof planted with grasses and flowers. Inside, enormous rammed-earth walls with layered colors echo the dramatic geological formations of the Badlands, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
The choice of location directly ties into Roosevelt’s own life narrative. After personal tragedy, he sought refuge in the isolated Dakota Territory, investing in a ranching operation and returning multiple times. These “Dakota days” were crucial in shaping him. He rode with cowboys, confronted bullies, apprehended boat thieves, and delivered his famous “I like big things” oration in Dickinson. Many historians, including William Hansard, a public historian at Dickinson State University’s Theodore Roosevelt Center, contend that his time here was foundational, with Roosevelt himself later remarking he “never would have been president were it not for his time in North Dakota.”
Navigating the ‘Calculated Risk’ of Isolation
The library’s remote location in Medora, a town of only about 160 residents, hours from North Dakota’s largest cities, stands in stark contrast to other presidential libraries situated in major urban hubs like Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, and Dallas. Public humanities scholar and Roosevelt author Clay Jenkinson supports the decision, believing the area’s inherent beauty will draw visitors despite the logistical challenges. However, the severe North Dakota winters, with sub-zero temperatures and blizzards, present a formidable obstacle to year-round visitation.
To overcome these challenges, library boosters hope to attract tourists already visiting nearby attractions such as Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and the adjacent Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which saw over 732,000 visits last year. Beyond peak summer months, plans include a “night at the museum” program to bring thousands of eighth graders from a five-state area, offering them a unique experience of the Badlands in its quieter, off-season beauty, as mentioned by CEO Ed O’Keefe.
Fundraising and Future Vision
The ambitious project carries a hefty price tag, with a fundraising goal of $450 million. As of late 2025, $344 million had been secured through cash and pledges, including significant contributions from figures like oil executive Harold Hamm and Walmart heir Rob Walton and his wife, Melani. Construction, design, and related costs alone are estimated at $276 million, with additional millions allocated for developing exhibits and digitizing archives.
The library aims to be more than just a museum; it envisions itself as a vibrant civic space. Ed O’Keefe hopes it will be a place “where kids drag their parents,” suitable for picnics, weddings, and even presidential debates. The grand opening is scheduled for July 4, 2026, coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary, with all living presidents invited to attend.
Humanizing a Complex Figure
A core mission of the library is to “humanize, not lionize” Theodore Roosevelt. Ed O’Keefe emphasized that the facility “will not shy away from the controversies and things that, perhaps if this library had been built 125 years ago, wouldn’t have been mentioned.” This commitment to a balanced portrayal is echoed by Clay Jenkinson, who described Roosevelt as “a man of his times, a bully, an imperialist and perhaps a warmonger.”
Roosevelt’s legacy, while celebrated for his conservation efforts and shaping of the modern presidency through executive power (like building the Panama Canal), is also marked by complex actions:
- He famously invited Black leader Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House.
- However, he also controversially discharged “without honor” an entire regiment of 167 Black soldiers without due process, linked to a shooting in a Texas town.
- He supported photographer Edward S. Curtis’s work with Native peoples, and some Native Americans were part of his Rough Riders.
- Yet, as Jenkinson highlights, “he also believed that Anglo-Saxon white America had a right and even a duty to dispossess native peoples and install what he took to be a superior civilization.”
Kermit Roosevelt, the president’s great-great-grandson, hopes the library will help people understand his ancestor’s legacy, noting his ability to appeal “across the political spectrum” and potentially “bring people together” in polarized times, as reported by The Associated Press.
Long-Term Impact and National Significance
Despite its remote setting, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is poised to become a significant cultural institution, offering a unique blend of historical preservation, educational outreach, and architectural innovation. Its commitment to presenting a multifaceted view of Roosevelt’s life and presidency, including both his celebrated achievements and his controversial actions, reflects a modern approach to historical interpretation.
By rooting itself in the very landscape that shaped Theodore Roosevelt, the library aims to provide an unparalleled, immersive experience that goes beyond traditional archives and exhibits. The success of this “calculated risk” will not only define the future of presidential libraries in unconventional locations but also contribute to a deeper, more honest national understanding of one of America’s most dynamic and complex leaders, according to library foundation CEO Ed O’Keefe.
