Why North Dakota Deserves A Presidential Library

Presidential libraries are usually located in the hometown cities or states of their presidents. For example, Bill Clinton’s library is in Arkansas, while George W. Bush’s is in Dallas. And the Barack Obama library will be on the South Side of Chicago.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas

But if a small town in North Dakota has anything to say about it, spending formative years in a place will now also qualify it to serve as the site of a future presidential library. The town of Dickinson, North Dakota, is making the case that the Badlands of North Dakota are an appropriate site for a Teddy Roosevelt presidential library.

A push to honor Teddy Roosevelt is coming from an unexpected location

The argument from the town for the library is that Roosevelt, a famous outdoorsman and conservationist, developed these priorities as a rancher and farmer in the Badlands, where he spent significant amounts of time between 1884 and 1887. “I have always said I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota,” Roosevelt once said.

Not everyone agrees that there should be a Roosevelt library in North Dakota. Roosevelt is from New York City, and both his birthplace and his family home in Oyster Bay are National Historic Sites, making them prime contenders for future libraries. The proposed North Dakota project still has tens of millions of dollars to raise, and the former president’s great-grandson, Tweed Roosevelt, said he and his Theodore Roosevelt Association are waiting to see if sufficient funds can be raised before endorsing the project.

If North Dakota’s bid is successful, it will represent a significant departure from the way presidential libraries have functioned in the past, and be a precedent-setting example for other locations in the future. If the idea comes to fruition, it may represent a more nuanced understanding of place as a marker of significance to a person’s life; after all, we can’t choose where we were born. However, we can choose the places that shape us, and the places we make our homes.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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