BISMARCK, N.D. – During a phone call today with Gov. Doug Burgum, Acting U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt expressed his support for the proposed Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Medora. Bernhardt was nominated last week by President Donald Trump to become permanent Secretary of the Interior. The National Park Service is among the agencies and bureaus overseen by the Department of the Interior.
Burgum has proposed dedicating $50 million in Legacy Fund earnings as an endowment to support a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum as a major tourist attraction and educational center at the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota’s top tourist attraction. Before being released, the $50 million would have to be matched by $100 million from private donors and other sources.
“I actually think it could be a fantastic project for the state, and we at the Department of Interior will continue to work closely with the State of North Dakota,” Bernhardt told the governor.
The project has support from the Roosevelt family, North Dakota’s congressional delegation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Boone & Crockett Club, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Walton Foundation, the Medora City Council, Dickinson State University President Tom Mitzel and the National Park Foundation, among others.
“This will be an educational, interactive, state-of-the-art facility designed to inspire our youth, our citizens and our visitors while also diversifying our economy by boosting tourism, and we are deeply grateful for Acting Secretary Bernhardt’s support. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm his nomination,” Burgum said. The governor and secretary also discussed issues important to North Dakota that fall within Interior’s regulatory scope, including tribal and energy issues.