The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is set to open July 4, 2026, in Medora, North Dakota.
Located on the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the library connects Roosevelt’s presidential legacy with the Badlands landscape that shaped his views on conservation and citizenship.
Design
What really makes the new building exciting to me is how it’s designed to feel like part of the natural landscape. It’s been described as “an earthen roof rising from the butte, with a softly sloped roofline that keeps views and movement tied to the outdoors.” It really is an amazing design!
What you’ll see inside
Visitors can expect much more than a standard museum experience. The library will feature narrative and adventure galleries, personalized digital elements, and original artifacts. Timed-entry tickets will manage daily capacity. (Special rates are available for seniors.)
You can also visit an on-site café and attend the auditorium for evening programs and speakers.
Outside
Unlike a traditional presidential library, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library extends the experience into the surrounding landscape. You can walk along the one-mile elevated boardwalk into the Badlands with rooftop viewing areas. This unique outdoor area is designed to give visitors space to see, learn, and take in the setting that played such an important role in President Roosevelt’s life.
Plans are in place for seasonal programs, guided tours, and special events. Plan on two hours or more to experience both the indoor and outdoor portions.
Getting there
For RVers, getting to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is easy. The official address is 3410 Chateau Rd., Medora, ND 58645. It’s located along Interstate 94 and can be accessed via Exit 24 (westbound) or Exit 27 (eastbound).
The library has designated oversized parking for RVs, buses, and motorcoaches. However, no overnight parking is allowed. That shouldn’t be a problem because there are RV campgrounds nearby.
More to see and do
After you visit the library, there’s plenty more to explore nearby. Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit is in Medora. There, you can take scenic drives and experience hiking trails. There’s also wildlife viewing and a visitor center to explore.
The town of Medora also offers the Medora Musical, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, and the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a popular route for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders through the Badlands.
Nearby RV camping options
If you plan to stay overnight, consider these nearby RV campground options:
- Medora Campground (in town): A convenient, well-rated base for easy access to Medora and the park.
- Rough Rider State Park Campground: Spacious sites just south of town with convenient access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
- Cottonwood Campground (inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park): A good choice for staying in the South Unit, though it offers dry camping only, with no hookups.
You should go!
The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our 26th president and the land that shaped his conservation legacy and genuine love for the outdoors.
Have you visited the Badlands while RVing? Tell us in the comments below.
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RVT1267
We have been to Medora and the National Park’s South and North units. Frankly, we liked the North unit better. Stunning views and fewer people. It is a little bit of a drive, on good roads, to get there.
TR is one of my favorite historical figures. An amazing individual. I highly recommend reading a trilogy by Edmund Morris, the first a Pulitzer Prize winner.
http://www.amazon.com/Edmund-Morriss-Theodore-Roosevelt-Trilogy/dp/0812958632
Looks more like a Cold War Era missile silo, though still better than the newer “library” that looks like a misshapen Easter Island monolith.
The park is beautiful and Medora is a nice town. Just avoid Red Trail campground. A real dump. Run down and one of the dirtiest places we ever stayed.
Agree on Red Trail. We stayed there the last time we were in Medora. Angry staff and rundown. We almost pulled right back out, but sites in Medora fill very quickly in the summer season, and we had reservations. They put us in the site right next to the delapidated, windows boarded up, trailer house about 3 feet from our slideout. That site had the advantage of being blocked in for an hour or more every afternoon as all the arrivals piled in, the line stretching into the street, to register, fully cutting off access to the site. Never again. Utilities did function OK and we had shade, so it worked.
Visitors to Medora and especially Rv’rs during the opening of the TRF library etc., be sure you read the information ffrom the ND Hiway Patrol. See at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1437997635037441&set=a.221656573338226 (Diane posted a link (the 2nd link from the ND Hiway Patrol. – “More on…”) under “Related…” above.)
This will save you a lot of frustration during this time. Please drive safely, courteously and have patience!
Thanks, Doug. Actually, both of the links you so kindly emailed to me are listed in the links under the post. Have a great day! 😀 -Diane
Thank you for the information and discussion, Gail. Sounds like a really cool library. Maybe, … one of these days … I guess we’ll see. Have a great week and safe travels!
We spent 4 nights at the Medora Campground at the end of last July. It was lovely, and the office staff were just outstanding during check-in. We came to attend the Medora Musical. The setting is at the top of a mountain with theater seats overlooking the stage and the library. If we’d known of the library, we would’ve waited and taken this trip next year. We also had a meal with Teddy Roosevelt and a Gospel Brunch with singers, instruments and scrumptious food. We loved everything about Medora. Also: we waited and bought all tickets either on Black Friday or Internet Monday. Then they were all buy one get one free! Find the Medora page and do your research. It was so easy!