President Donald Trump will join Freedom 250 and distinguished guests on July 1, 2026, for the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, N.D. Held as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the historic event will honor the life, legacy, and enduring contributions of President Theodore Roosevelt.
“As we celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, it’s a tremendous honor for our 45th and 47th president to cut the ribbon at the library and National Park honoring the president who led our nation during its 125th anniversary,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Americans will experience Roosevelt’s remarkable story at an extraordinary place that pairs his timeless ideals with cutting-edge technology to inspire visitors to get ‘in the arena’ and serve something larger than themselves.”
As America prepares to observe its 250th anniversary, this celebration will honor Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of leadership, conservation, and national purpose. A rancher, soldier, conservationist, and statesman, Roosevelt embodied the adventurous spirit, determination, and optimism that defined America. Roosevelt said that it was in the North Dakota Badlands that transformed him into the man he became.
“North Dakota transformed Theodore Roosevelt into a leader and conservationist who would leave an enduring mark on America,” Burgum said. “It’s where a young New Yorker found grit, purpose, perseverance, and crafted a conservation vision that would shape America’s treasured places for generations. The dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will show how Roosevelt’s passion inspired the creation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dramatic expansion of our National Parks and the stewardship of our public lands.”
“Theodore Roosevelt’s life encapsulates the American story: tested by hardship, remade by the frontier, and devoted to a cause larger than himself,” said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. “As America celebrates 250 years of freedom, Freedom 250 is honored to mark the opening of a library that will carry his example to millions. This is exactly the kind of moment our nation’s anniversary is meant to inspire.”
The dedication will draw directly from the landscapes, traditions, and experiences that shaped Theodore Roosevelt’s life and legacy. Beginning in Medora, guests will witness a ceremonial Freedom 250 rail arrival that pays tribute to the railroads that opened the American West, connected communities, and fueled the nation’s growth. The arrival will transition into a mounted Rough Riders escort, evoking Roosevelt’s legendary cavalry regiment and create a dramatic procession to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Set against the backdrop of the North Dakota Badlands, the dedication will celebrate Medora’s unique place in Roosevelt’s story and the profound influence the region had on his life. The landscapes that inspired his conservation vision and forged his resilience will serve as the setting for a tribute to one of America’s most consequential leaders and the enduring values he championed.
“Theodore Roosevelt believed America’s greatest work was always still ahead—that we are meant to dream big, dare greatly and take on the work worth doing,” Burgum said.