Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin facts for kids
The Maltese Cross Cabin was a special home used by Theodore Roosevelt before he became the President. Today, you can visit this historic cabin at the visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It's located right outside the town of Medora, North Dakota.
Contents
The Cabin's Story
Roosevelt's First Home in Dakota
This cabin was Theodore Roosevelt's very first home in the Dakota Territory. He lived here from 1883 to 1884, before he became president. Like many ranchers back then, Roosevelt used public lands or lands owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad. He didn't actually own the land where the Maltese Cross Ranch was located. The ranch already had its name, "Maltese Cross," before he arrived.
A New Beginning in the Badlands
In 1884, Roosevelt faced a very sad time. His wife and mother both passed away on the same day. Feeling very sad, he left the Maltese Cross Cabin. He then traveled further north along the Little Missouri River. There, he built a new home called the Elkhorn Ranch cabin, where he spent most of his time.
From Rancher to President
In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States. He also became known as one of the greatest people to work for protecting nature. He once said that his time in North Dakota helped him become president. He arrived in the North Dakota badlands in 1883 to hunt buffalo. Before he left, he became very involved with the Maltese Cross Ranch. Roosevelt loved the active outdoor life and worked hard as a cowboy there.
Building the Maltese Cross Cabin
The Maltese Cross Ranch cabin was first built about seven miles south of Medora. It was in the wooded areas along the Little Missouri River. Roosevelt asked his ranch managers, Sylvane Ferris and Bill Merrifield, to build it. They built a one-and-a-half-story cabin with a shingled roof and a root cellar. The cabin was made from strong ponderosa pine logs. It was considered quite fancy for its time. It had wooden floors and three separate rooms: a kitchen, a living room, and Roosevelt's bedroom. The steep roof was unusual for the plains. It created an upstairs sleeping area for the ranch workers.
Items Inside the Cabin
Some items you see in the cabin today actually belonged to Theodore Roosevelt. However, most of the furniture is from that time period. These pieces show what a typical cabin would have looked like. The white hutch in the main room is original to the cabin. It was used as a bookcase and a writing desk. The stylish desk is from his Elkhorn Ranch cabin. Roosevelt spent many hours at his desk. He wrote about his experiences and memories of life in the badlands.
The rocking chair in the cabin is believed to have been Roosevelt's. It might also have come from an upstairs room in the Ferris Store. Roosevelt sometimes stayed there. Rocking chairs were his favorite type of furniture. All his homes had them. Roosevelt once wrote, "What true American does not enjoy a rocking-chair?" His traveling trunk is in the bedroom. It has his initials on it. This large leather trunk traveled with him on the train. It went from his home in New York City to Medora. It would have held his clothes and personal items.
Roosevelt's Legacy
Roosevelt actively ranched in the badlands until early 1887. But he kept his ranching interests in the area until 1898. Later, as president, he created a conservation program. This program was greatly shaped by his experiences in the West. Because of these experiences, he understood how important it was to protect natural resources.
The Cabin's Travels
During Roosevelt's presidency, the Maltese Cross cabin was shown at big events. It was at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. It was also at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon in 1905. In 1910, it moved again. This time, it went to the state fairgrounds in West Fargo, North Dakota. Then it moved to the state capitol grounds in Bismarck. It stayed there until 1959. After that, the cabin was moved to its current location and fixed up. The most recent work to preserve it happened in 2000.
Roosevelt's second ranch, the Elkhorn, was built in 1884. It was about 35 miles north of Medora, also on the Little Missouri River. After building it, Roosevelt thought of Elkhorn as his "home ranch." He spent most of his time there when he was in the Dakotas.
Visiting the Cabin Today
The Maltese Cross Cabin was left empty for a while. But now, the National Park Service takes care of it. It is located inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is also recognized as a historic landmark. Some of Theodore Roosevelt's personal items are still on display inside the cabin. You can take tours of the cabin from mid-June to Labor Day. For the rest of the year, you can explore the cabin on your own.
The cabin's original spot was several miles away. Because it was smaller, the cabin could be moved around the state for public viewing. It was moved to its current spot after being restored. Nothing remains of his later cabin at the Elkhorn Ranch. That area is much more remote. Only some cornerstones, foundation blocks, and a covered well are left. Roosevelt once said, "I do not believe there ever was any life more attractive to a vigorous young fellow than life on a cattle ranch in those days. It was a fine, healthy life, too; it taught a man self-reliance, hardihood, and the value of instant decision...I enjoyed the life to the full."
See also
- List of residences of presidents of the United States
- Presidential memorials in the United States
- Elkhorn, 2024 television series
