Arrived in Medora, ND on July 10. For those that don't know, Theodore Roosevelt came to the Medora in 1883 for a buffalo hunt and immediately fell in love with the land. He invested in cattle and soon operated two large ranches, the Maltese Cross and the Elkhorn.
At age 42, he became the youngest president in U.S. history, serving until 1909. The Badlands shaped Roosevelt's philosophy toward conservation. When he first came to Medora to hunt, the bison were nearly extinct, having been decimated by hide hunters and disease. In 1901, Roosevelt established the Badlands of North Dakota as a national park.
According to Roosevelt, "I have always said I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota".
Medora was founded in 1883 by a 24 year old French nobleman, the Marquis de Mores. He named the town for his bride, the former Medora Von Hoffman, daughter of a wealthy New York City banker. With financial backing from his father-in-law, the Marquis founded the town and built a beef packing plant, hotel, several stores and the Chateau de Mores, their summer home. All of his various enterprises ended in financial failure by the fall of 1886. With their son and daughter, they returned to France where another son was born.
Heading to Medora, North Dakota
The wide open plains
To heading into the Badlands of North Dakota
Myron and Karen's RV lot in Medora ND
The small quaint town of Medora, ND
The original Rough Rider hotel
Karen relaxing while I (Marion) go collect information from the Visitor's Center
Going through Teddy Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands
Watch the blue blue skies. Some pictures are taken through the window which is tinted. Thus the reason for the darker versus lighter pictures.
I'm home! Prairie Dogs everywhere!
We came across a herd of wild horses in the Badlands
I think the mama is in the picture above. Ya Think?
Maybe not? Maybe same Daddy.
This was a second herd we seen. They were a ways away but zoomed in on them.
And then we came across a heard of Buffalo
The big guy was resting
Almost missed this one. He was hiding in a cove right next to the road. Luckily Karen spotted him. Had to back up to get a picture. Didn't seem like he was more than 30 feet from the road.
Must not be mating season as the males are away from the rest of the herd all by themselves.
Next, we stopped into the Roosevelt National Park Visitor's Center and Museum. This was Teddy Roosevelts first cabin on his Maltese Cross Ranch. He also built another one called a 2nd Ranch named Elkhorn . We didn't see that one, but I believe it is in the northern part of the Badlands.
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