"I never would have been Pre
sident if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota" Theodore Roosevelt remarked when reflecting on the influences that affected him throughout his life. Here too, Roosevelt sharpened and refined his interests in nature and conservation. Roosevelt first came to the badlands of North Dakota in September 1883.
He became interested in the cattle business and joined two other men as partners in the Maltese Cross Ranch. (The Maltese Cross cabin, the main house on Roosevelt's first ranch, was a substantial, soundly built structure.)The prospect of big game hunting initially brought Roosevelt to the West. But when he arrived the last large herd of bison were gone, having been decimated by hide hunters and disease.
By spending time in the Dakota Territory, he became alarmed by the damage that was being done to the land and its wildlife. He witnessed the destruction of some big game species. Over-grazing destroyed the grasslands and with them the habitats for small mammals and songbirds. Conservation increasingly became one of Roosevelt's major concerns. When he became President in 1901, Roosevelt pursued this interest in natural history by establishing the U.S. Forest Service and by singing the 1906 Antiquities Act under which he proclaimed 18 national monuments. He also go Congressional approval for the establishment of five national parks and 51 wildlife refuges and set aside land as national forests.
As a conservationist, Theodore Roosevelt was a major figure in American history. Here in the North Dakota badlands, where many of his personal concerns first gave rise to his later environmental efforts, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that honors the memory of this great conservationist.
Theodore Roosevelt park has two main sections, a North Unit and a South Unit. The entrance to the South unit is located in the town of Medora. As we drove the 36 mile loop in the South unit it was like we had our own park. Unlike so many other parks this one is not very crowded. Looking across the Paddock Creek, you see a field of bumps. Erosion has worn away all but the hardest of materials, leaving the maze of buttes and canyons.
The Little Missouri River that flows through the park at one time flowed north and emptied into Hudson Bay. However, during the glacial period, which began about 2 million years ago, the movement of great continental ice sheets blocked the flow of the north -flowing revers, altering their courses so that they now emptied into the Mississippi River and drainage basin. When the glaciers retreated the Little Missouri remained in their new riverbeds.
The road through the south loop is paved and a very easy drive, with many pullouts to view the wonderful scenery. I would recommend this park to everyone.
More later on the North Unit.
Until then, we love to hear from you,
Candy and Johnny
