Enbridge’s $2.5M gift will help reintroduce 400,000 plants across 100 acres in North Dakota, support rooftop classroom
He was the original Rough Rider.
But Theodore Roosevelt was also America’s first true conservationist.
Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota is called “the cradle of conservation” by some historians—the place where he developed a profound appreciation for wildlife, and came to understand that natural resources were not limitless.
As President of the United States from 1901 through 1909, Roosevelt created five national parks, established the United States Forest Service, placed 230 million acres of American land under federal protection, and created the first U.S. federal bird reservations.
On Saturday, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will celebrate its grand opening in Medora, North Dakota.
Designed as a “living library” in the North Dakota Badlands, the TRPL is integrated with the landscape that shaped Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. The $450-million project is intended to serve as a national destination focused on leadership, conservation, resilience and civic engagement.
Developed in consultation with North Dakota Tribes, including the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (MHA Nation) and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the TRPL reflects a shared commitment to respecting the land, supporting ecological restoration and strengthening community relationships.
Supporting the first carbon-neutral presidential library
At Enbridge, sustainability and environmental responsibility are embedded in the way we do business. This year, we marked 25 years of sustainability reporting—and earlier this week, we announced a $2.5-million founding gift to the TRPL.
This funding will help nurture a once-in-a-generation civic and cultural asset, while supporting the TRPL’s sustainability certification and conservation initiatives—including its aim to become the first carbon-neutral presidential library.
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is a 96,000-square-foot museum perched on a butte west of Medora, North Dakota, looking out across the Little Missouri River into Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
“Theodore Roosevelt is often called the ‘conservation president,’ so it’s fitting that his Presidential Library is designed to exist within the rugged landscape of the North Dakota Badlands,” says Enbridge President and CEO Greg Ebel.
“We’re proud to support the library and its ambitions to serve as a national destination focused on leadership, conservation, resilience and civic engagement.”
Creating a habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife
A key part of Enbridge’s investment supports the TRPL’s Native Plant Project, reintroducing about 400,000 native plants across more than 100 acres to restore one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems and create habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife.
This includes more than 140,000 native plugs on the library rooftop and outdoor classroom space, extending restoration across the site while supporting biodiversity and prairie resilience.
"Theodore Roosevelt is often called the ‘conservation president,’ so it’s fitting that his Presidential Library is designed to exist within the rugged landscape of the North Dakota Badlands."
Greg Ebel
Enbridge President and Chief Executive Officer
The rooftop outdoor classroom—an immersive space with 360-degree views of the Badlands—will serve as a hub for conservation education and public programming.
Designed for hands-on learning, it brings visitors into direct contact with the landscape and the systems that support it, turning the setting itself into part of the experience.
“The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library represents a bold vision for conservation, education and regional pride,” says Pete Sheffield, Enbridge’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of External Affairs.
“We are proud to support a project that reflects long-term thinking, responsible stewardship and meaningful investment in North Dakota communities.”
Why is conservation so important to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library?
- Conservation is a core institutional pillar, reflecting Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of protecting 230 million acres and shaping U.S. environmental policy.
- The library embeds conservation in its design, using carbon‑neutral goals, renewable energy, and resource‑efficient systems to reflect stewardship principles in operation.
- The site and landscape are integral to the mission, with restored native prairie, ecological systems, and proximity to Theodore Roosevelt National Park reinforcing environmental context.
- Programming and education extend conservation themes, connecting Roosevelt’s legacy to modern challenges in natural resource management, sustainability, and public stewardship.
