In the Badlands, a New Kind of Presidential Library Takes Root

Designed by the firm Snøhetta, the 96,000-square-foot structure rises from the prairie with a walkable green roof that merges into the local topography. It is the first institution to unify Roosevelt’s story in the place where it unfolded, housing 142 original artifacts, including the diary entry where he famously recorded the loss of his wife and mother on a single day in 1884. Beyond the gallery walls, a mile-long boardwalk connects the campus to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, inviting visitors to engage with the environment that shaped his political philosophy.

The project prioritizes environmental performance, pursuing the Living Building Challenge and LEED Platinum certification as the world’s first carbon-neutral presidential library. Built with mass timber and rammed earth walls, the 93-acre campus features 400,000 hand-planted native species. According to CEO Edward F. O'Keefe, the library aims to move beyond traditional curation by centering its programming on the "arena" concept Roosevelt championed in 1910, challenging visitors to apply his principles of leadership and citizenship in their own communities.