Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Grand Opening Set for July 4
Festivities include 'Eyes on the Stars' drone show, immersive artificial intelligence exhibits and special guest speakers.
A broken landscape difficult to traverse was the consensus of people—indigenous and explorers—that first came upon the Badlands near Medora in southwestern North Dakota. And it was the rugged and colorful countryside that also drew in the future 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.
At 24 years old, a young Roosevelt from New York visited the area in 1883 for a bison hunting trip and to experience the American West. He was so taken with it, he invested in a ranch. The following year, Roosevelt suffered the tragic loss of his wife and mother on the same day—February 14, 1884. In mourning, Roosevelt returned to the Badlands where he established the Elkhorn Ranch and, when there, embraced life as a rancher, hunter and conservationist.
One hundred twenty-five years after being elected president in 1901, a presidenti…
