Memories from the Homestead: Cowboy country in Medora, North Dakota

     It's a beautiful week here in the Little Missouri River country. The Sons of the Pioneers are here for a one-night music festival, and it's wonderful to spend time with many of our fans.

The town of Medora is known for some famous cowboys, with Theodore Roosevelt being the most well known.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, ND

Medora was founded in 1883 by a 24-year-old Frenchman by the name of Marquis De Mores. He named the town for his bride, Medora Von Hoffman, daughter of a wealthy New York banker.

The Native Americans had a presence here for generations hunting and then came the arrival of the early white man and explorers. By the time De Mores had arrived here, the area had been abandoned, and with financial assistance from his father-in-law, he opened a meat packing facility, a brick factory, a hotel, and a large home up on the ridge overlooking the town.   

Hard financial times would cause their dream to fall apart, and within three years the De Mores family would return to France.

Their adventurous lifestyle would continue. Marquis was killed in Africa in 1896, and Medora never remarried. She died in France in 1921.

In September 1883, a young New York native, Theodore Roosevelt, arrived in the area, hunting buffalo and fell in love with the beauty of the land. He would invest in two large cattle ranch operations, one north of Medora and another to the south.

Roosevelt would become the nation's youngest President at age 42 in 1901, remaining in office until 1909. He considered his time in Medora as the highlight of his life.

Other notable cowboys would also call Medora their home. The Eaton Brothers would open the Custer Trail Ranch, five miles south of Medora in 1883. This would be the first public dude ranch operation in the United States. 

Cowboy movie star Tom Mix married in Medora in January 1909.

Medora would become the county seat of Billings County, North Dakota, and would continue to become a very prominent cattle town. From the 1920s through the 1940s, three large coal mines operated in the area. Also, the Civilian Conservation Corps maintained their base camp at Medora.

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park officially opened 110 square miles of land in June 1947. Many of the camping areas and trails were constructed by the CCC.

In 1958, a theatrical production honoring Theodore Roosevelt opened a large amphitheater a mile west of Medora. It ran each summer though 1965 when Medora the Musical opened. This lively variety show continues to operate June through September. 

The Theodore Roosevelt Foundation now produces events at the Burning Hills Amphitheater making this one of the premiere family destinations in the country.

In recent years the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame has been based in Medora and is currently going through an expansion that will be completed in 2027.

Today the population of Medora is almost 200. There's lots to do here, great places to eat, and much to see.  

For more information go to medora.com .