Maltese Cross Cabin

Overview

A quick, meaningful stop, the Maltese Cross Cabin is Theodore Roosevelt’s first ranch home, set just behind the South Unit Visitor Center in Medora. It’s small, but it punches above its weight for context—this is where Roosevelt’s Badlands years began, shaping the conservation ethos that defined his presidency.

What You’ll See

Walk around a one-and-a-half–story log cabin built of ponderosa pine, larger and more refined than most frontier dwellings of its time. Downstairs are a kitchen, living room, and Roosevelt’s bedroom; there’s a sleeping loft above for ranch hands. The original logs remain, and some woodwork (like window frames and the front door) may be original. Inside you’ll view the rooms and period furnishings from behind barriers—look for Roosevelt’s travel trunk marked “T.R.” and a replica of his writing desk.

Why It Matters

Roosevelt arrived in 1883 to hunt bison and bought into the Chimney Butte (Maltese Cross) Ranch. After a personal tragedy in 1884, he returned, finding purpose and resilience in this landscape. The cabin’s journey mirrors his legend: exhibited at major fairs, later cared for in Bismarck, and finally placed here in 1959. His time in the Badlands seeded the conservation drive that later protected vast swaths of American public lands.

Visiting Tips

This is an easy add-on to the visitor center—do them together. Ranger talks at the cabin are excellent when offered; they make the stop. There’s no plumbing or power in the cabin, so use the restrooms at the visitor center.

How Long It Takes

Plan 10–20 minutes to see the cabin on your own, longer if you catch a ranger program or want to linger over the details.

Best Time to Visit

Go early or late in the day for fewer people and softer light through the cabin windows. The cabin typically follows visitor center hours (often around 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.); access is included with your park admission. If you’re here near dawn or dusk, pair the stop with a loop drive—those are prime times to see bison, prairie dogs, and, in the South Unit, bands of wild horses.