Supporters of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota are cheering new federal legislation to aid in its construction and showcase artifacts of the 26th president’s time in the state. The bill, announced by North Dakota’s congressional delegation, authorizes funding for the library’s continued construction and preservation of Roosevelt’s legacy. The Interior Department grant of $50 million will primarily go towards the establishment of museum spaces within the facility. Additionally, the bill enables and directs federal agencies to collaborate with library organizers to feature Roosevelt-related items in the museum. In 2019, North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment for the library, contingent upon the organizers raising $100 million in private donations for construction. This goal was achieved in late 2020. The project has garnered a total of $240 million through private contributions, with an estimated construction cost of $333 million. According to the library’s chief communications officer, Matt Briney, funding for the library’s construction is not an issue. The library is being built near Medora, in the Badlands where the young future president briefly resided in the 1880s. Its grand opening is planned for July 4, 2026, the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence. In a statement, the congressional delegation hailed the bill as a “wise investment in our nation’s historical preservation.” The announcement also drew praise from descendant Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt V and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who championed the library in 2019. The bill mandates a two-thirds match from state funds or non-federal sources and prohibits the use of federal money for the library’s maintenance or operations. Planned exhibits include a chronological display of Roosevelt’s life, highlighting his early years, time in the Badlands, travels, and presidency. The 2023 Legislature approved a $70 million line of credit for the library through the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, which has not yet been utilized by the library planners. While Republican state Rep. Jim Kasper expressed concerns about the line of credit, deeming it a “slush fund” that could burden taxpayers, he acknowledged the library’s positive impact on North Dakota. Library CEO Ed O’Keefe explained that the line of credit was intended as a backup to ensure the beginning of construction. Kasper stated that he prefers private funding for the project and would rather see federal dollars used than taxpayer dollars from North Dakota. However, he recognized that taxpayer funds would still be involved. Other presidential libraries have been built with private or non-federal funding. Some have received construction and development funds from state and local governments or universities before being transferred to the federal government and managed by the National Archives and Records Administration. Briney noted that the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will remain privately held and described the federal legislation’s funding as “not necessarily uncommon.”
Roosevelt Library Funding Boost: Federal Legislation to Support Preservation of Presidential Legacy
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