A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin

Subject(s): Authentication, Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893, Bly, Eber H., 1830-1901, Brubaker, Wilbert A. (Wilbert Augustus), 1878-1956, Burdick, Usher L. (Usher Lloyd), 1879-1960, Crawford, Lewis F. (Lewis Ferandus), 1870-1936, Crusades (First, 1096-1099), Dantz, William T., 1860-1928, Daughters of the American Revolution. North Dakota State Society, Dow, Wilmot S. (Wilmot Sewall), 1854-1891, Eaton, Howard, 1851-1922, Emblems, Ferguson, Robert Harry Munro, 1868-1922, Ferris, Joseph A. (Joseph Albert), 1857-1937, Ferris, Sylvane M., 1858-1933, Foley, James W. (James William), 1874-1939, Hospitalers, Lang, Lincoln A. (Lincoln Alexander), 1867-, Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, Log cabins--Conservation and restoration, Log cabins--Design and construction, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Maltese Cross Ranch Cabin (N.D.), Merrifield, Arthur William, 1855-1929, Morès, Antoine Amédée Marie Vincent Manca de Vallombrosa, marquis de, 1858-1896, Myers, Ella, 1866-1963, Myers, George W., 1860-1938, Names, North Dakota State Capitol (Bismarck, N.D.), North Dakota--Bismarck, North Dakota--Elkhorn Ranch, North Dakota--Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Northern Pacific Railway Company, Ohio University, Pelissier, Kate Roberts, 1875-, Ranches, Reid, Russell, 1900-1967, Roberts, Elizabeth Ellen, 1872 or 1873-1968, Roberts, T. Frank, 1859-1954, Robertson, Charles, 1889-1951, Robinson, Douglas, 1855-1918, Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Sandham, Henry, 1842-1910, Sarles, Elmore Y. (Elmore Yocum), 1859-1929, Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Tomamichel, Jacob J., 1873-1957, United States--Little Missouri River, United States. National Park Service, Volwiler, Albert T. (Albert Tangeman), 1888-1957, Writing

Historian Ray H. Mattison reports on his study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. Mattison concludes that the cabin in question is the one occupied by Roosevelt when he first moved to Medora, North Dakota. Whether or not it was his home beyond 1885, it continued to be the base of Roosevelt’s cattle ranching operation. In addition to a thorough history of Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands Region and the efforts of others to preserve and/or showcase the Maltese Cross cabin, the report includes photos and sworn affidavits from Medora locals.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-05-24

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Recipient

Hanks, Allyn F. (Allyn Frank), 1906-1973

Language

English

Period

Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)

Repository

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Page Count

37

Production Method

Typed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Report

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between Theodore Roosevelt National Park – National Park Service and Dickinson State University. See the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library Terms of Use for further copyright information.

Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. [May 24, 1950]. Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275267. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980. A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. [24 May. 1950]. Multi-image.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275267.

APA:

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980., [1950, May 24]. A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275267.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-national-park. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-national-park.

APA:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-national-park.