One hundred forty five miles west of Menoken, where we stayed Monday night, lies the town of Medora, North Dakota. This little burg, population 115, give or take, has a couple of interesting things to see. The town was founded by French nobleman Marquis de Mores and named after his wife. The Marquis wanted to ship beef to eastern markets via the railroad that was built through here in 1883. The venture failed, but the Marquis was a friend of a member of a wealthy eastern businessman named Theodore Roosevelt, who visited on April 7, 1903. A roaring crowd, apparently everyone who lived in the "Badlands" turned out to shake the hand of the then President of the United States.
Our first stop in Medora was at the Red Trail Campground, where we were welcomed with a site change. We had been scheduled for a site with only water and electricity, but someone didn't show up and we moved into a full hook-up site. It's going to be a challenge getting the motorhome out of the park with the narrow roads and large trees, but it will happen! The wind was blowing more than 35 mph. Not good.
After set-up, we headed a few blocks west to one of the main attractions of the area, the National Park Visitors Center for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit.
In the Visitors Center, we checked out a small museum about TR and his relationship with Medora and North Dakota. TR found this area to be a wonderful change from political life in New York. Hunting trips and investments in cattle and ranches introduced Teddy to the area.
TR's love of the west revolved primarily around hunting and horseback riding. Two of his Winchester 50-95 rifles are on display.
His triple barrel Baker rifle is also there, with two 12 gauge shotgun barrels mounted over a 45-70 rifle barrel!
When his wife and mother both died on Valentines Day, 1884, TR abandoned politics (he was in the New York legislature) and struck out for the Dakota Territories to recover from his grief. When a blizzard in 1885 wiped out his prized herd of cattle, he returned to the east and again took up politics. After a stint in the Spanish-American War, and governor of New York, he was selected as William McKinley's vice-president, moving into the White House when McKinley died at the beginning of his second term.
President Roosevelt never forgot his love of the west, and is known for protecting thousands of acres of public land for the enjoyment of "The People." However, his family life wasn't so successful. His daughter Alice was a scandal in Washington society, and was banned from attending society affairs after she once remarked that Calvin Coolidge looked as though he had been weaned on a pickle.
Today, the 16th, We decided to visit TRNP, the North Unit. This little known and rarely visited area was Theodore Roosevelt's favorite, and is very near the site of his Elkhorn Ranch. Unfortunately, the ranch buildings do not exist anymore due to having been constructed of soft Cottonwood logs. On the way north from Medora, we happened upon an historical marker at a cross on a hill. Ukrainian immigrants came to North Dakota to develop a farming empire undreamed of. The Ukrainian Pioneer Memorial Cross is dedicated to these hardy men and women.
It's about 75 miles from Medora to the entrance to the North Unit, through thousands of acres of farm and ranch lang.
Entering the North Unit, we started the 14 mile trip through some of the most beautiful areas of the state.
And, saw our first bison of the day!
The wind continued today, even harder than yesterday. Donna enjoyed the view, but not so much the wind!
And, to make our day complete, we met a bison herd up close and personal.
The North Unit, and Theodore Roosevelt's focus, is bisected by the Little Missouri River. There is only about a gallon of water in the river, but the stream bed shows evidence of much more water activity!
After traveling on US85 north, known as the CanAm Highway, we turned around and slid down the same road to the intersection of ND200, where we turned east toward the oil town of Killdeer just to take a different road, and then south on ND22 toward Dickinson, the largest city in the area. A few miles east of Dickinson, we bailed off Interstate 94 onto CR 100 1/2 Ave SW toward Regent. Known as the Enchanted Highway, there are several sculptures along the road.
The first is Geese in Flight. The gravel road is lined with metal geese, and the huge artifact is awesome!
Deer Crossing:
Grasshoppers in a Field:
Pheasants on the Prairie:
A Fishermans Dream:
Along about here, we began to see a pattern. At each work of art, a small sign was placed in the corner advertising The Castle, where "You'll be Treated like a King." At the last stop, in the front of The Castle, a several year old motel with plywood cutouts of castle walls and a knight facing a dragon, complete with earth moving equipment as backup, we saw the light! Come to the town of Regent and stay and eat and leave your money...
And again, taking a different road home, we passed through the hamlet of New England, where we were welcomed.
Tomorrow, we hope to tour the South Unit of TRNP. Hope so, the wind has stopped!
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