The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a $450 million project, is designed to reflect Roosevelt's conservation values and connection to the North Dakota Badlands. It is pursuing full Living Building Certification, a rigorous environmental standard met by only 35 other structures globally, and emphasizes working with nature to create a regenerative building.
The 92-acre facility, atop a butte overlooking Medora, is approximately 65% complete and is scheduled to open on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The project has raised $286 million of its $400 million private fundraising goal, in addition to $50 million from a state-sponsored endowment fund.
Key design features include a 90,000-square-foot building with a living roof, a central rammed-earth wall, and a nearly mile-long circular boardwalk made of reclaimed wood. The library will operate entirely on renewable energy. The western wing will house 40,000 square feet of exhibition space, a café, and a gift shop, while the eastern wing will include offices, academic spaces, classrooms, and a 300-seat auditorium.
Architectural firm Snøhetta designed the structure, with JLG Architecture as the architect of record and J.E. Dunn as the construction manager. The project emphasizes local investment, with a significant multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment to North Dakota. President Donald Trump has visited the site, and all living former presidents will be invited to the opening ceremony.
Recent construction milestones include the completion of the living roof in June, featuring mass timber construction and over 100 native plant species, and a 30-foot-high, 240-foot-long rammed-earth wall completed in May. The boardwalk is expected to be finished by December, becoming a signature feature of the library.
