History
This was Theodore Roosevelt's
first cabin in the Dakota Territory.
It was used by Roosevelt from 1883-1884, before he became President. After his wife
and mother
died in 1884, only hours apart, Roosevelt became depressed. He then left the
cabin and went further north up the Little Missouri
River, where he constructed his new Elkhorn Ranch cabin, where
he spent most of his time.
In 1901, at the dawn of the 20th
century, Theodore Roosevelt became the nation's 26th President and ultimately
one of its greatest conservationists. He later said, "I would not have
been President had it not been for my experience in North Dakota."
It was here in the North Dakota
badlands in 1883 that Theodore Roosevelt first arrived to hunt a buffalo.
Before he left, he had acquired primary interests in the Maltese Cross Ranch
(also called the Chimney Butte Ranch). Roosevelt thrived on the vigorous
outdoor lifestyle, and, at the Maltese Cross, actively participated in the life
of a working cowboy.
The Maltese Cross Ranch cabin was
originally located about seven miles south of Medora in the wooded bottom-lands
of the Little Missouri River. At Roosevelt's request, ranch managers Sylvane
Ferris and Bill Merrifield built a 11⁄2-story cabin complete with a shingled roof and root
cellar. Constructed of durable ponderosa pine logs, the cabin was considered
somewhat of a "mansion" in its day, with wooden floors and three
separate rooms (kitchen, living room and Roosevelt's bedroom). The steeply
pitched roof, an oddity on the northern plains, created an upstairs sleeping
loft for the ranch hands.
Several items present in the
cabin today did belong to Theodore Roosevelt, but the majority of the
furnishings are period pieces representing a typical cabin of the time (see Furnishing
Plan). The white hutch in the main room is original to the cabin and was used
as a bookcase and writing desk. The classically styled desk is from the Elkhorn
Ranch cabin. Roosevelt spent many hours at his desk, recording his experiences
and memoirs of badlands life.
The common rocking chair is
believed to have been Roosevelt's, or may have come from an upstairs room in
the Ferris Store where Roosevelt stayed on occasion. Rocking chairs were his
favorite piece of furniture; all of his homes had rocking chairs, and Roosevelt
once wrote, "What true American does not enjoy a rocking-chair?"
Roosevelt's traveling trunk sits
in the bedroom and is inscribed with his initials. The large leather trunk
traveled back and forth with him on the train from his home in New York City to the stop
in Medora and would have held clothing and personal items.
Roosevelt actively ranched in the
badlands only until early 1887, but maintained ranching interests in the area
until 1898. Later, as president, he developed a conservation program that
deeply reflected his many experiences in the West. It was through these
experiences that he became keenly aware of the need to conserve and protect
natural resources.
Roosevelt's second ranch, the
Elkhorn, was built in 1884 and was located about 35 miles north of Medora on
the Little Missouri
River. After its construction, Roosevelt considered the Elkhorn his
"home ranch" and spent most of his time there whenever he was in
residence in the Dakotas.
Today
The Maltese Cross Cabin was later
abandoned for a time, but is now preserved and maintained properly by the National Park
Service. Today, it is located within Theodore Roosevelt National
Park, and designated as a historic landmark. Some personal effects of Theodore
Roosevelt remain on display in the cabin. Tours of the cabin are held from mid
June-Labor Day. The rest of the year, the cabin is self-guided.
The original location of this
cabin was several miles away. Because of its smaller size the cabin was able to
be moved around the state on a public tour, but was relocated to the current
site after restoration. Nothing remains of his subsequent cabin, located in a
much more remote area at the Elkhorn Ranch, except some cornerstones,
foundation blocks, and a well which is covered for safety. "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."
