Presidential library to host grand opening on July 4, 2026

Contributed photo
Theodore Roosevelt when he was a young cattle rancher in the 1880s near Medora in Dakota Territory. North Dakota gained statehood in 1889.

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, nearing completing near Medora in western North Dakota, will be dedicated on July 4, 2026. This grand opening will coincide with America’s 250th anniversary and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Medora has, for many years, been a popular tourist destination for many residents of Otter Tail County. It was there, from 1883 to 1887, when the future president of the United States was a cattle rancher. Today Medora is the gateway to the beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Once the new library and museum is open for visitors, in 2026, people from near and far will learn about the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. Roosevelt said his experiences in Dakota Territory just prior to North Dakota becoming a state helped shape his leadership style and his appreciation for, in his words, “the natural world.”

Roosevelt, while serving as president from 1901 to 1909, established five new national parks. He used his executive authority to protect a large portion of the Grand Canyon.

The library construction site is west of Medora on a butte in the Badlands near Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Narrative galleries will tell the story of Roosevelt’s life and exhibits that use technology will engage visitors. Paths will connect visitors from the library to the Maah Daah Hey Trail which showcases majestic plateaus, jagged peaks and valleys.

Restoration of Medora was the result of North Dakota native Harold Schafer donating vast sums of money. That money came from sales of Glass Wax marketed by Schafer’s Gold Seal Company based in Bismarck.

Schafer, in 1958, was elected president of the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park and Badlands Association. He made substantial investments in Medora, preserving the historical significance of the old cattle town. His son, Ed, later became governor of North Dakota.

If you want to donate to the library project to honor Teddy Roosevelt, make your check out to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. The address is 401 East Main Avenue, Suite 201 Bismarck, ND 58501.