Governor Burgum Supports Mounting for Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Gov. Doug Burgum Thursday, January 24 met with reporters to discuss budget priorities for the ongoing legislative session, including mounting support for the proposed Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum at Medora, N.D.

Burgum has proposed investing $50 million in earnings from the state’s Legacy Fund, with $100 million in matching funds required from private donors and other sources, to create the experiential library and museum as a major tourist attraction and educational center at the doorstep to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Theodore Roosevelt V, the great-great-grandson of the nation’s 26th president; Melani Walton, a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation board member and Dickinson State University alumna; and Melani’s husband, Rob Walton, met with lawmakers Tuesday at the Capitol or the Governor’s Residence, reaffirming their commitment to the project.

It was also announced during their visit that the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation recently donated $5 million to the North Dakota Community Foundation. The donation was placed into a donor-advised fund, meaning the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation will be able to recommend grants from the fund that align with the Community Foundation’s mission of improving the quality of life for North Dakota citizens.