Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, located in western North Dakota, is a unique park. Not only is it the only park to serve as a memorial, but its association with the 26^th president makes it as rich in historic resources as it is in natural wonder.

The park was established as the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in 1947 and later converted to a national park in 1978. It honors President Theodore Roosevelt’s commitment to conserving the nation’s natural resources.

This site serves as Roosevelt’s memorial because he frequented the area in his early adult life. Initially traveling to the region to hunt bison, he so greatly enjoyed his experiences in the wilderness that he later invested in two cattle ranches in the area.

He periodically returned to the ranches to tend them. He is often quoted as saying "I never would have been president if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota." The home Roosevelt lived in during his stays, the Maltese Cross Cabin, and his two ranches, Maltese Cross Ranch and Elkhorn Ranch, are major attractions in the park today.

One of the most popular activities in the park is wildlife viewing. The park houses numerous prairie mammals such as bison, wild feral horses, elk, mule deer, white-tail deer, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, coyotes and badgers. More than 185 different species of birds live in the park as well.

The habitat is dominated by grasslands. There are 12 native grasses and 50 different species of forbs and shrubs. The park also contains floodplains, forests and woodlands. Overall, it is estimated that over 500 species of plants inhabit the park.

The park’s geology is another unique feature. It is part of an extensive badlands formation. Badlands are arid areas of high wind and water erosion. This erosion carves out geological features such as canyons and ravines. It also limits vegetative growth, leaving geologic formations exposed. These conditions are favorable to the uncovering of fossils. The park is well-known for its fossils and has one of the largest collections of petrified wood in the United States.

Related Resources

National Parks Lesson Plans and Materials (American History, Biology, Earth Science)

Views of the National Parks (Environmental Science, Earth Science, American History)

History of the Endangered Species Act (American History, American Government, Biology)

Photos: National Park Service (Sarah Nystrom)