Known as the conservation president, Theodore Roosevelt believed progress and conservation could go hand in hand, a philosophy forged in North Dakota's Badlands, where his vision for the natural world first took shape and continues to resonate today.
That vision lives on in the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where ConocoPhillips is helping inspire a new generation of conservationists and advance a shared commitment to stewardship and sustainable development.
Protecting the landscape, supporting the vision
Although ConocoPhillips owns the underlying mineral rights to Elkhorn Ranch, it entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to forgo surface development, protecting the ranch’s iconic viewshed — a vast, unobstructed stretch of Badlands terrain, a rugged maze of weathered buttes, winding gullies and open prairie.
As a result, more than 550 acres will remain undisturbed, preserving the landscape and honoring Roosevelt’s enduring conservation legacy for future generations.
A library that embraces nature
Overlooking sweeping grasslands and weathered buttes, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is designed to blend into the surrounding terrain. The 90‑acre campus in Medora, North Dakota, uses natural materials, energy‑efficient systems and a footprint intended to work with the land rather than against it. Amenities include:
- A public park accessible by foot, bicycle and horseback
- A walkable planted roof with 360‑degree panoramic views
- A resilient prairie landscape with native flora
- A trailhead with access to 144 miles of the Maah Daah Hey Trail
-
Learn more about the library's sustainability vision | The four zeros
Honoring a conservation pioneer
ConocoPhillips has long prioritized environmental stewardship and supporting the communities where it operates.
“Thanks to ConocoPhillips’ generosity, one of America’s most cherished landscapes, where Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation vision was born, is now protected for generations to come,” said Robbie Lauf, executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. “This preservation effort, paired with their gift, ensures we can inspire and educate the public about Roosevelt’s enduring legacy for decades.”
Investing in North Dakota's land and communities
ConocoPhillips has a decades-long history in North Dakota, with the Bakken playing a key role in its portfolio.
The company holds about 800,000 net acres in the Williston Basin, operates roughly 2,000 wells and employs more than 250 people in the state, with additional teams across the organization supporting basin operations.
That deep-rooted presence extends beyond operations into sustained investments in conservation and community initiatives. This includes support for the library and the protection of the Elkhorn Ranch viewshed, an approach grounded in Roosevelt’s belief: “Conservation means development as much as it does protection."
