North Dakota
Dirt is moving as construction begins on Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora
MEDORA, N.D. — Construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library has begun with excavation of the site on top of a butte overlooking the national park that commemorates America’s “cowboy president.”
Earth scraping began June 15 and is 65% accomplished, with excavation completion expected by mid-July, according to Ed O’Keefe, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation.
“Magnificent milestone,” he said. “We are under construction.”
Completion of the library, including installation of exhibits, is scheduled for July 4, 2026, an official event celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Excavated topsoil is being placed in two large piles for later landscaping use on the 93-acre site, including a “green” roof for the building that will be
planted in native prairie and plants from seeds collected in the area
.
Construction is broken up into four bid packages, and all of the bids in the first group were awarded to western North Dakota contractors, O’Keefe said. “We feel good about that,” he said.
The construction manager, J.E. Dunn, has a large base of operations in nearby Dickinson.
Once excavation is finished, work will begin on a retaining wall for the library’s east wing, where a 28-foot hole will be dug, then allowed to settle for one or two months.
A “proud moment” will come in March or April of 2024 with delivery of steel and massive timbers hewn from Douglas firs.
Some prominent walls will be fashioned from what is called “rammed earth,” layered soils compressed in bands to mimic the striking striations of the Little Missouri Badlands.
“It’s an alternative to concrete and steel and it’s absolutely gorgeous,” O’Keefe said. “It’s a beautiful natural material.”
Douglas fir also will be used to make custom ceiling baffles to dampen sounds in high-traffic areas, including the main lobby of the west wing. The ceilings are designed by ARUP Group, an acoustic engineering firm that is working with Snöhetta, the lead architect on the project.
The goal is to use as many materials as possible from a radius of 400 or 500 miles from Medora. One material that is a notable exception to that goal: slabs from a copper beech tree Roosevelt planted at his Sagamore Hill home in New York that will be used for a lectern and a conference table.
“We wanted to find ways where we could bring the East into the West and the West into the East,” O’Keefe said.
With an eye to local flavor, the library foundation is working with an indigenous chef to source food for the cafe locally, including beef from nearby ranches.
A breezeway with a view of the national park will be made from wood. About a dozen samples are on the site, exposed to the elements, to allow designers to pick the one that best blends with other materials.
All of the materials are being chosen with a 100-year lifespan in mind.
One of the library’s distinctive rooms is a 301-seat auditorium in the east wing that is designed to accommodate major events, including presidential debates and speeches.
“This is going to be an extraordinary, special space,” O’Keefe said. Behind the stage, windows will allow a view of the rugged buttes of the national park, but can be closed for events.
The library’s grounds will include a path encircling the site that will connect directly with the nearby Maah Daah Hey trail, which runs throughout the Badlands.
The trailhead will include shaded seating, a newly added feature thanks to a donation from a benefactor, O’Keefe said.
Fundraising for the project continues. So far, $200 million has been raised. The library has a construction budget of $178.7 million, but the capital budget also must cover exhibits and programming, O’Keefe said.
“We definitely want people to know we want them ‘in the arena,’” he said, referring to ongoing fundraising. “The capital project is more than a building.”
“In the arena” is a touchstone phrase from a famous speech by Roosevelt, who urged people to ignore critics and enter the fray to achieve worthwhile accomplishments. Words from the speech will surround visitors in an exhibit.
“Those words continue to inspire today,” O’Keefe said, noting the speech has entered popular culture, citing basketball star LeBron James’ allusion to the speech when he was named NBA scoring leader and a tattoo worn by singer Miley Cyrus.
“His philosophy has an impact,” he said.
Working along construction crews are horned moths collected from the area that feed on leafy spurge, a noxious weed and invasive species that vexes property owners including ranchers and the park.
North Dakota
Four Bismarck businesses featured on Free Comic Day
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Every year on the first Saturday in May, comic book fans around the country gather at their local comic book stores for Free Comic Day.
When Comic Realms opened at 11 a.m., fans of all kinds rushed through the doors to get their free comic books.
The event featured four businesses: Comic Realms, Chakra Realms, Cafe Realms and Rhythm Records.
Comic Realms has been open since 2017. For the last four years, Free Comic Day has been used by the business as a fundraiser.
”How we do it here is you get five books for free, just for coming, whatever titles you’d like. And then for every $1 donation or a nonperishable food item that’ll go to the local food bank, you can get an extra five books. And then we cap it at a $5 donation, and then you can get all 48 titles if you’d like,” said Lesley Frohlich, owner of Comic Realms.
Located next to Comic Realms, Cafe Realms sells comic book-inspired drinks.
In honor of the event, the theme was Transformers, but customers can enjoy themed drinks outside of Free Comic Book Day.
”We have a Marvel list and then a DC list. All of your Marvel drinks are going to be more like your energy-based, like Redbull, and the DC, we decided to steer away from that and do like a dirty soda,” said Britney Frohlich, manager at Cafe Realms.
Lesley appreciates the support of the community the business has attracted and wants to return the favor with the funds and donations received.
“We have a really good community of people that support us, so we like to give back whenever we can,” said Lesley.
Attendants also had the chance to win a door prize and a print designed by Dylan Kahl.
Comic Realms, Cafe Realms, Chakra Realms and Rhythm Records collaborate often. Lesley says they like to support small businesses, as they are a small business as well.
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
North Dakota
PHOTOS: 33rd annual Woodlands and High Plains Powwow
FARGO — People gathered in a swirl of colors Saturday, May 4, for a celebration of Indigenous culture the 33rd annual Woodlands and High Plains Powwow.
Attendees converged on the Sanford Health Athletic Complex at North Dakota State University for the event, which featured two grand entries — one at 1 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. A feast was scheduled for 5 p.m.
The theme of the year’s powwow was “May the Four Directions Guide Me.”
North Dakota
North Dakota lawmaker found guilty of voting for personal gain during legislative session
(Bismarck, ND) — A Bismarck legislator awaits sentencing after a jury found him guilty on Friday of using his political office for personal gain.
Court officials say Representative Jason Dockter of Bismarck had pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of speculating or wagering on official action. The charge was linked to his legislative vote on a state lease on a building in which he had a financial interest. Prosecutors had alleged that Dockter’s interest in the property should have barred his participation in the vote that approved state funds for the project. Officials say Dockter could face up to 360 days in prison and a $3,000 fine when he is sentenced.
Members of North Daktoa’s Dem-NPL commented on the conflict-of-interest guilty verdict today, including House Minority Leader Zac Ista. “Representative Dockter must resign after a jury convicted him of using his public office for personal gain. He has the right to appeal his conviction, but he should step aside from the privilege of serving in the Legislature. All North Dakotans deserve elected officials who are acting only in the best interests of the citizens of our great state.”
-
News1 week ago
First cargo ship passes through new channel since Baltimore bridge collapse
-
World1 week ago
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns, transitional council takes power
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Abigail Movie Review: When pirouettes turn perilous
-
World1 week ago
EU Parliament leaders recall term's highs and lows at last sitting
-
Politics1 week ago
911 call transcript details Democratic Minnesota state senator’s alleged burglary at stepmother's home
-
Politics1 week ago
GOP lawmakers demand major donors pull funding from Columbia over 'antisemitic incidents'
-
Science1 week ago
Opinion: America's 'big glass' dominance hangs on the fate of two powerful new telescopes
-
World1 week ago
Hamas ‘serious’ about captives’ release but not without Gaza ceasefire