Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the badlands of western North Dakota memorializes the 26th president and the landscape that profoundly influenced his conservation philosophy. Roosevelt first came to the Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt bison and subsequently established two cattle ranches — the Maltese Cross and Elkhorn — in the Little Missouri River badlands. His experiences with the harsh beauty of the landscape and his witness to the decimation of wildlife and open range shaped his lifelong commitment to conservation. As president from 1901 to 1909, Roosevelt established the United States Forest Service, created 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, 51 bird reserves, and 150 national forests, protecting roughly 230 million acres. The park was designated a national memorial park in 1947 and redesignated a national park in 1978.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →On April 25, 1947, President Harry S. Truman established Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in the North Dakota Badlands where the young politician found solace after personal tragedy.
Roosevelt invested heavily in ranches in the Badlands, spending formative years in the harsh landscape that shaped his conservation philosophy. The park was later expanded and redesignated Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1978. The landscape represents both Roosevelt's personal journey and his vision for American conservation.
Why this matters: Theodore Roosevelt National Park represents how landscape can transform an individual and how that transformation can reshape a nation's values. Over 750,000 people visit this site each year.
On April 25, 1947, President Harry S. Truman established Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in the North Dakota Badlands where the young politician found solace after personal tragedy.
Roosevelt invested heavily in ranches in the Badlands, spending formative years in the harsh landscape that shaped his conservation philosophy. The park was later expanded and redesignated Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1978. The landscape represents both Roosevelt's personal journey and his vision for American conservation.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “More than 70 percent of the native grasslands on the Great Plains have been lost to agriculture and development.”, “Once common on the Great Plains, prairie dogs are absent from most of their historic range. Hunting, trapping, poisoning, disease, and habitat destruction have contributed to the decline of these curious ground squirrels.”, and “Roosevelt witnessed the demise of open-range grazing and took part in the over-hunting of wild game. Reflecting on these experiences awoke his passion for protecting natural resources and wild places.”.
Why this matters: Theodore Roosevelt National Park represents how landscape can transform an individual and how that transformation can reshape a nation's values. Over 750,000 people visit this site each year.
“More than 70 percent of the native grasslands on the Great Plains have been lost to agriculture and development.”
"Once common on the Great Plains, prairie dogs are absent from most of their historic range. Hunting, trapping, poisoning, disease, and habitat destruction have contributed to the decline of these curious ground squirrels."
“Roosevelt witnessed the demise of open-range grazing and took part in the over-hunting of wild game. Reflecting on these experiences awoke his passion for protecting natural resources and wild places.”
On April 25, 1947, President Harry S. Truman established Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in the North Dakota Badlands where the young politician found solace after personal tragedy.
Roosevelt invested heavily in ranches in the Badlands, spending formative years in the harsh landscape that shaped his conservation philosophy. The park was later expanded and redesignated Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1978. The landscape represents both Roosevelt's personal journey and his vision for American conservation.
Among the content targeted: “LEGACY NPS REGION” — language that the administration has flagged for review under its directive to review historically accurate interpretive materials.
Why this matters: Theodore Roosevelt National Park represents how landscape can transform an individual and how that transformation can reshape a nation's values. Over 750,000 people visit this site each year.
Junior Ranger Book, page 6 of 13, Activity 4 of the document uploaded below. Three illustrations and the last two sentences of the final paragraph on the page may be in conflict with the SO. Options for change include 1) removal of the page from the Junior Ranger Book, or 2) editing of text and illustrations to bring into alignment wiht the SO.
Note: THRO is listed under PWR “LEGACY NPS REGION” above. It should be MWR, but I am proceeding with this submission as annotated.
On April 25, 1947, President Harry S. Truman established Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in the North Dakota Badlands where the young politician found solace after personal tragedy.
Roosevelt invested heavily in ranches in the Badlands, spending formative years in the harsh landscape that shaped his conservation philosophy. The park was later expanded and redesignated Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 1978. The landscape represents both Roosevelt's personal journey and his vision for American conservation.
From the internal review records: “Park film published in 2011, shown in park visitor contact stations, minutes 13:58 - 15:05 (digital file attached below) addresses Theodore Roosevelt's conservation ethic in context of development, with images of oil and gas infrastructure. This content may be in conflict with the SO. A possible change would be to edit this segment out of the film, as there are audio and video transitions that may...”
Why this matters: Theodore Roosevelt National Park represents how landscape can transform an individual and how that transformation can reshape a nation's values. Over 750,000 people visit this site each year.
Park film published in 2011, shown in park visitor contact stations, minutes 13:58 - 15:05 (digital file attached below) addresses Theodore Roosevelt's conservation ethic in context of development, with images of oil and gas infrastructure. This content may be in conflict with the SO. A possible change would be to edit this segment out of the film, as there are audio and video transitions that may allow the before and after film to be merged with limited change to the film.
Note: Theodore Roosevelt National Park (THRO) is listed under PWR above, rather than MWR. I am proceeding with this submission as annotated.
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