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 presidential library will open in Medora in his name surrounded by the very terrain he loved. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) will celebrate its official grand opening on July 4, 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the United States, according to the library.
“There’s no better place to honor Theodore Roosevelt than the arena that shaped him, and no better time than our nation’s 250th year,” said Edward F. O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, earlier this year in a press release. “We are thrilled to open our doors and invite the world to experience the landscape and the legacy that made our 26th president.”
This will be the second presidential library to open this year. On June 19, the Obama Presidential Center is slated to open. Named for the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, the 19-acre campus in Chicago, Illinois, will be a hub for civic engagement run by the Obama Foundation that features a museum, public park spaces, a library branch and a tower with scenic views. Its library is digitized.
Unlike any other presidential library, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is designed by the international architectural firm Snøhetta and will be the only carbon-neutral presidential library. It will be LEED certified and have a focus on water efficiency and community education. On the grounds, native landscaping, non-potable irrigation systems and low-flow fixtures will reduce water use.
On opening day, an official dedication ceremony is scheduled in the morning followed by the library formally opening its doors to the public for the first time, according to the release. Grand opening ticket holders will be among the first to experience what the library has to offer.
Going beyond traditional displays, visitors will step directly into Roosevelt’s life through galleries using artificial intelligence, holograms, and immersive storytelling.
Capacity will be limited and advance tickets are required. The library cannot accept walk-ups. Tickets for other dates through the end of the year will also be available for purchase. Tickets are in high demand and attendees interested in visiting on July 4, are strongly encouraged to become a Founding Member.
The July 4 celebrations will conclude with “Eyes on the Stars,” an immersive drone show serving as a celebratory close to the day’s events. Choreographed to celebrate the American West and the night sky, the aerial exhibition uses light and storytelling to narrate his legacy directly above the Badlands, according to the release.
Throughout the celebration week, programming will feature live music, author talks, and guest speakers, including Secretary Doug Burgum, Edward F. O’Keefe, Douglas Brinkley, and Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Visitors to the library should plan for a full-day with both indoor and outdoor experiences. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Tickets will be available at trlibrary.com/tickets. For more information, visit trlibrary.com/grandopening.
Updated: May 4, 2026
Calendar
May 8, 2026
Legacy Lecture: First Mothers
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents a virtual Legacy Lecture: “First Mothers – Celebrating First Ladies as Mothers in the White House” on May 8 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. From Dolley Madison to Edith Roosevelt and more, this Mother’s Day-themed program highlights the unique experiences of first ladies as mothers and the enduring impact of their stories. Attendees will also enjoy a Special Mother’s Day Virtual Tea with recipe cards sent in advance and a festive virtual hat contest. Read more
May 12, 2026
Virtual Landmark Lecture - On National Commemorations: The Bicentennial, the Semiquincentennial and What We Can Learn About the Future of the Past
Tudor Place presents a free, virtual talk from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EDT on May 12, 2026, with Dr. M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska, who will draw from her book on the 1976 Bicentennial, History Comes Alive: Public History and Popular Culture in the 1970s. Also to be discussed is her in-progress research about how Americans are engaging history in order to explore and explain the way that national commemorations help to clarify, crystalize and accelerate emergent trends in historical engagement. Read more
May 13, 2026
Talk with a Curator
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents “Talk with a Curator,” a virtual program at 7 p.m. EDT featuring members of the curatorial team sharing insights into how artifacts are acquired, preserved, and interpreted to tell the powerful stories of America’s First Ladies. From research and conservation to exhibition planning, this program offers a deeper understanding of the care and thought behind the collections that connect the public to history. Read more
May 15, 2026
Conference: ‘250 Years of First Ladies Making History’
Registration is open for the “250 Years of First Ladies Making History,” a conference celebrating presidential spouses, their contributions as part of America’s 250th anniversary of its founding.
The event, sponsored by FLARE and American University’s School of Public Affairs First Ladies Initiative will bring together scholars, teachers, institutions, first ladies staff, biographers, archivists, journalists, historians, students and anyone with an interest in U.S. presidential first ladies for a day-long conference at American University in Washington, D.C.
The conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time on May 15. Colleen Shogan, former Archivist of the United States and CEO of In Pursuit, will keynote the conference luncheon with an interview by Anita McBride, FLARE founding member, a Gould Award Recipient, co-director of In Pursuit and Director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University. Register here
May 19, 2026
30th Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum
On May 19, 2026, the Carter Center’s Rosalynn Carter Mental Health and Caregiver Program will convene the 30th Annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, a milestone gathering dedicated to advancing mental health policy, systems, and practice across the state of Georgia. Read more
May 21, 2026
Third Thursday: The Art of the First Lady
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents an in-person program on May 21, 2026, exploring the artistic traditions and the creative legacies of America’s first ladies through the art of needlework, craftsmanship and design with textile historian Denise Layman. This Third Thursday program starts at 6:30 p.m. local time and highlights the artistic talents and personal expression woven into historic textiles created by first ladies: offering a deeper understanding of how art reflected identity, history, and leadership. Read more
May 27, 2026
First Ladies on the Page Book Club
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents a free, virtual staff-led discussion of Founding Mothers:The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts on May 27, 2026, at 7 p.m. EDT. The discussion will explore the women who helped shape the early United States. Read more