Construction began in the summer of 2023 and the library is slated to open in 2026. The site of the library is positioned to overlook the South Unit of Roosevelt’s namesake national park, which was established as a memorial park in April 1947 and later designated as a national park in November 1978.

Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer joined Gov. Doug Burgum for the beam signing.

“The establishment of this library is an historic project for our state, honoring the life and legacy of Teddy Roosevelt and North Dakota’s impact on his presidency,” Hoeven said. “That’s why we’ve worked to pave the way for this effort, having secured the sale of U.S. Forest Service land next to our national park.

“We appreciate the support of Senator Cramer, Congressman Armstrong and Governor Burgum in advancing this agreement,” he added. “Today’s milestone is a welcome step in the library’s construction, and we look forward to seeing this tremendous project come to completion.”

Submitted Photo John Hoeven speaks in front of a beam signed by many in attendance at the beam signing ceremony for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora Wednesday. At the immediate left is Gov. Doug Burgum.

The North Dakota delegation had been involved in working with the U.S. Forest Service to purchase land in Billings County for a library and museum honoring the life and legacy of Roosevelt. The Medora Grazing Association also was involved in efforts to advance the land purchase.

“It’s hard for me as a former tourism director to exaggerate the impact the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will have,” Cramer said. “You cannot overstate the impact that Theodore Roosevelt has had on the areas, the state, the nation and the world. The care and the engineering that has gone into ensuring the integrity of the natural landscape that was so important to Roosevelt, are as impressive as the man himself.”

In late 1883, Roosevelt invested in a cattle ranch in what was then the Dakota Territory. Following the deaths of his mother, Mittie, and wife, Alice, only a few months later in 1884, he left New York to grieve in the solitude of the Badlands. Roosevelt famously stated, “I have always said I would not have been president if it had not been for my experience in North Dakota.”

Roosevelt became president of the United States in September 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley. He won a full term in 1904.

“We’re setting out here to create a presidential library and museum for one of the most intriguing and most impactful figures in our entire country, and we need TR more than ever,” Burgum said. “We’re not just building a building. We’re building an institution, an institution that’s going to be framed around citizenship, leadership and conservation – the three pillars of what TR brought.”

The project has raised over $270 million in private donations, far surpassing the $100 million that was originally required to trigger a $50 million state endowment whose earnings will be used to help fund operations and maintenance of the library. Burgum, who championed efforts to secure the state endowment, noted the $50 million remains in state hands as it generates investment earnings, and that the presidential library is on track for a grand opening on July 4, 2026, on the nation’s 250th birthday.

“This historic milestone that we have today is one of many that we’re going to have as this great project moves forward,” Burgum said. “We’re on a journey to create the best presidential library in the nation. There’s 14 others; this will be the best. This will have biggest impact on generations to come, and it’s going to be a library worthy of carrying the name of our 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.”

Burgum also thanked the state’s congressional delegation for introducing legislation seeking $50 million in federal funding to support the preservation and display of Roosevelt materials in the library’s museum.