The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library: An analysis of its establishment and characteristics

Abstract

This paper examines the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which is scheduled to open in July 2026, by addressing three questions: Why is the library being developed more than a century after Roosevelt’s presidency? Why was Medora, North Dakota, chosen as its site? And what are its defining features? Section 2 explores Roosevelt’s deep ties to North Dakota and explains how the idea for the library, initially conceived in Dickinson, eventually led to its selection in Medora. Section 3 discusses the library’s key characteristics, including the fact that it lacks archival facilities and that it is not operated by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).