7/15 Today we drove into Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is divided up into 2 parks; a north unit and a south unit. Today we toured the northern unit. This park is located in the western part of North Dakota; in the wilderness of the badlands.
Roosevelt first came to the badlands in Sept. 1883. Before returning home to New York he became interested in the cattle business and joined two other men as partners in the Maltese Cross Ranch.
The next year he returned and established a second open-range ranch, the Elkhorn, as his own operation while continuing as a Maltese Cross partner.
The Elkhorn became his principal residence, a place where he could lead the “strenuous life: that he loved. Here he sharpened and refined his interests in nature and conservation.
Conservation increasingly became one of his major concerns.
When he became President in 1901, he established the U.S. Forest Service and by signing the 1905 Antiquities Act under which he proclaimed 18 national monuments. He also got Congressional approval for the establishment of five national parks and 51 wildlife refuges and set aside land as national forests.
Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that honors the memory of this great conservationist.
Tomorrow, I will tell you about the exciting experience that we had while taking a walk on one of the many trails in the area.
The Best of Times 
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