Maltese Cross Ranch Cabin (N.D.)

Jim Fuglie lavishes Rolf Sletten’s Medora: Boom, Bust, and Resurrection with praise in his brief review. Fuglie lists some of the familiar Badlands characters who make appearances, and he focuses on the efforts of North Dakota businessman Harold Lyle Schafer to bring Medora, North Dakota, back to life as a tourist destination. The book’s front cover illustration, two photographs of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross cabin, two photographs of landmark buildings in Medora rebuilt by Schafer, and a letter from Roosevelt to his first wife Alice Lee Roosevelt enhance the essay. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2013

Report on the 2011 annual meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in Medora and Dickinson, North Dakota. The report highlights the various venues for the meeting including Dickinson State University, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and Medora, and it notes the winners of three awards conferred by the TRA. Thirty-eight photographs comprise most of the report, including twenty-six of the various guests, dignitaries, and speakers as well as twelve photographs of the North Dakota Badlands.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2012

Three titles undergo scrutiny in the “Book Review” section. William N. Tilchin admires Candice Millard’s The River of Doubt about the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition of Brazil’s River of Doubt, and he provides a summary of its contents, noting that it would meet with Theodore Roosevelt’s approval as a combination of history and literature. Robert Wexelblatt expresses mixed feelings about Morton L. Kurland’s historical novel Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again, noting that the author takes care with historical facts, but that his portrait of Roosevelt is cartoonish and “the writing is uneven and uncertain.” Gregory A. Wynn finds that Mike Thompson’s The Travels and Tribulations of Theodore Roosevelt’s Cabin adds to the understanding of Roosevelt’s time in the Dakota Badlands with its many details about the cabin and the rancher who inhabited it.

Two photographs of Roosevelt during the River of Doubt expedition and one of the Maltese Cross cabin appear in the review section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Description of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota which details the landscape, wildlife, and historic structures found at the North and South Units and the Elkhorn Ranch site. The article concludes with a look at the conservation measures undertaken by President Theodore Roosevelt.

A photograph of Roosevelt on horseback is featured on the first page of the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

This report details a number of proposals for developing the Elkhorn Ranch site as a part of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. Following a brief description of the site’s history and reasoning for the site’s preservation, plans for the development of the site are described, to make the area accessible and understandable to visitors. Maps and photographs are included along with the text.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1956-11

A form nominating the Elkhorn Ranch Site and Maltese Cross Cabin in Theodore Roosevelt National Park for entry onto the National Register of Historic Places. The form includes basic information about these sites, including name, location, and managing agency, as well as descriptions of the physical appearance of the sites and statements describing their historical significance.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1976-12-22

Paul L. Beaubien, regional archaeologist, writes to Superintendent Jay of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park, forwarding his personal research file containing photographs and notes related to his work at the Elkhorn Ranch site in 1957. Beaubien notifies Jay of an upcoming visit by Herbert E. Kahler and Merrill J. Mathes. Beaubien also plans to prepare a memorandum suggesting further excavations at the Maltese Cross Cabin site.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1959-08-14

Stereograph depicting Theodore Roosevelt’s cabin on display during the St. Louis World’s Fair.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1905

A full color photo postcard of Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin in Medora, North Dakota. The back of the postcard has a short history of the Maltese Cross Cabin: “The 26th President-to-be came to the Badlands to recover from illness and to hunt, and stayed to become a rancher. The cabin is named for the Roosevelt brand. Restored and furnished by the Minshoshe Chapter, D. A. R. it was on the State Capitol grounds for many years before being moved to its present site.”

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

A black and white photo postcard of Roosevelt’s cabin with the following writing on the reverse side: “T. R. Roosevelt’s cabin Bismarck, N. D.” The postcard features a lady posing in front of the window to the left partly hidden by the shrubbery.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1901-1907

Stereograph depicting Roosevelt’s cabin on display in the Agricultural Building during the Louisiana Purchase Expedition (also known as the St. Louis World’s Fair).

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1904

A full color linen quality postcard with typed black print on the top of the card front: “Middle Entrance, South Roosevelt Park, N. Dak. Badlands.” The reverse of the card features a short description of the Roosevelt cabin and equestrian monument at the entrance to the park. The sender writes: “Hi Babe, just had chow here in Dickinson N. Dak. Swell weather so far. Heading west. Give us Minnesota.”

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1948-07-26

A full color linen quality postcard with typed black print on the top of the card front: “Painted Canyon Lodge and Observation Point in the Bad Lands of North Dakota.” The reverse of the card features a short synopsis of the area scenery: “Excellent views can be seen, not only from Observation Point, but also from the lengthy rim drive maintained by the Painted Canyon Lodge.”

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1930-1945

A full color postcard depicting Roosevelt’s cabin. A short history on the back of the card reads: “Theodore Roosevelt’s Cabin, removed from his ranch in the Badlands of western North Dakota to the grounds of the State Capitol, Bismarck, North Dakota.”

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1960-1980

A full color linen quality postcard with typed black print on the top of the card front: “Roosevelt Cabin, on the State Capitol Grounds, Bismarck, N. D.-4” The reverse of the card features a short synopsis of the cabin history on the top left corner: “This is the original cabin built and occupied by Theo. Roosevelt when he was a resident of the Bad-Lands District of this State.”

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1907-1956

A full color linen quality postcard depicting Roosevelt’s cabin. The caption at the top above the color picture reads: “Teddy Roosevelt’s cabin, Bismarck, N. D. Originally Located in the Bad Lands.” The back of the card reads: “Genuine CurtTeich-Chicago C. T. American Art” Postcard.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1930-1945

A full color linen quality postcard depicting Roosevelt’s cabin. The caption at the top above the color picture reads: “Roosevelt’s Log Cabin, Bismarck, N. D.” The back of the card reads: “Genuine CurtTeich-Chicago C. T. American Art” Postcard.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1930-1945

A full color linen quality postcard depicting Roosevelt’s cabin. The caption at the top above the color picture reads: “Roosevelt’s Log Cabin, Bismarck, N. D.” The back of the card reads: “C. T. American Art” made only by CurtTeich & Co., Inc., Chicago.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1930-1945

A full color linen quality postcard depicting Roosevelt’s cabin. The caption at the top above the color picture reads: “Teddy Roosevelt’s cabin, Bismarck, N. D. Originally Located in the Bad Lands.” The back of the card reads: “Genuine CurtTeich-Chicago C. T. American Art” Postcard.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1930-1945

A black and white photo postcard depicting “Roosevelt’s cabin, Bismarck, N. D.” sent by Ruth to “Aunt Mattie” reads: “This is Teddy Roosevelt’s cabin here on the Capitol grounds. It was moved here from Medora, where he used to live in it. When he used to live in such a little cabin, he probably never imagined himself as U.S. President.” Ruth continues the postcard by thanking “Aunt Mattie” for the gift of soap leaves and reporting that “Mother” is feeling better.

Collection

Mike Thompson Collection

Creation Date

1926-11-03