Snøhetta's Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Opens in North Dakota Badlands

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, designed by Snøhetta, opens in Medora, North Dakota, on July 4, 2026, coinciding with America's 250th birthday. The $400 million project features a low-slung, grassy roof that blends into the prairie landscape, inspired by pebbles and a leaf during a design meeting. The 96,000 sq ft building comprises two volumes—exhibition space and public programs—united by a landscaped canopy. Its mass-timber-and-steel hybrid structure with rammed earth walls targets Living Building Challenge certification. Exhibits immerse visitors in Roosevelt's life, from his childhood to the Bull Moose campaign, displaying artifacts like his cavalry uniform and the eyeglasses case that saved him from an assassin. A one-mile trail connects to a broader network, honoring Roosevelt's conservation legacy. The library collaborates with North Dakota State University and Resource Environmental Solutions to collect seeds from 200 local species for replanting. Indigenous tribes, including the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Standing Rock Sioux, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, participated in a land blessing ceremony. CEO Edward O'Keefe describes the library as 'a call to adventure,' not merely a museum.