Visit This Former Presidents Ranch In North Dakota

North Dakota’s beautiful national park, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is by far one of the most popular destinations in the state. Both the North Unit, near Watford City, and the South Unit, near Medora, get thousands upon thousands of visitors annually. The two sections of the park are full of natural splendor and recreational opportunities. But what about the third unit of the park? Yes, there is indeed a third unit, one that some people know of but many are missing out on. That unit used to be the ranch site of a former president, and I bet you can guess which one.

North Dakota's beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park is full of history, from the petrified forest from the time of the dinosaurs to the layered sediments that make up the painted canyons.

There is also a fascinating history to explore lying right in the middle of the North Unit and South Unit at a place called the Elkhorn Ranch.

The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is a protected area that was once former President Theodore Roosevelt's ranch. It was established in 1884.

The ranch had cattle and was run by two men along with Roosevelt, Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow. They built the ranch house shown in the photo below that stood on Elkhorn Ranch. It was here that Roosevelt retreated to recuperate and mourn after the death of both his wife and mother on the same day.

After a hard winter in 1887 that resulted in the loss of a majority of his cattle, Roosevelt quit the ranching business. Even though he was no longer a rancher he still visited the area for his love of the badlands and the people in it. Today you can visit the unit and see the majestic landscapes surrounding it.

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park also has another piece of Teddy's past: his Maltese Cross Cabin. This was a cabin he used before the Elkhorn Ranch was established and now sits in the South Unit of the park.

This cabin is authentic inside and out and you can even go inside and see how a former president lived. Theodore Roosevelt himself said, "I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota."

Have you ever visited the Elkhorn Ranch Unit or Maltese Cross Cabin before? The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is overflowing with fascinating history. Learn more about the park here.

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Few People Know You Can Visit This Former President's Beautiful Ranch In North Dakota

Leah

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