Speaking of books . . . let’s go to the library. You might have to pack your bags first though. This library is new. It commemorates the life and presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. And it’s in North Dakota.

Actually, it’s really more of a museum than a library. 

The new library will open in Medora, North Dakota, on July 4. The library’s location is remote. Rugged. Breathtaking. The building will nestle among clay hills and grassy bluffs. The spot hasn’t changed much since the 1880s, when President Roosevelt first saw it. People often travel to big cities to visit museums. But Medora is tiny. Only 160 people live there! 

Who Was Teddy Roosevelt? 

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt served as the 26th U.S. president. He was an outdoorsman, writer, and conservationist. Lots of people like him—even if they don’t agree with each other on politics. President Roosevelt used his power to protect natural landscapes. He also used it to build the Panama Canal. One thing you should know about President Roosevelt: He made bold choices without asking permission first. Other presidents have followed in his footsteps. 

Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly child growing up in New York City. He overcame this difficulty and became a city official. In 1883, he took a bison-hunting trip to the Dakota Badlands. No city lights there. Just jagged hills and a vast sky. Later, he moved back to the Dakota Territory. Life there prepared him to be a tough president who protected wild land. He said so himself: “I never would have been president if it had not been for my experience in North Dakota.”

President Roosevelt was far from perfect. He could be a bully. He believed white Americans should take land from Native Americans. 

And that’s part of the library’s message too. The museum tells President Roosevelt’s story—warts and all. 

Recommended Reading: For more about our 26th president, read Theodore Roosevelt for Kids by Kerrie Logan Hollihan.