Maltese Cross Cabin
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FamilyIndoorPhoto SpotFreeMust-SeeEducationalHistoric BuildingPioneer History
Overview
The Maltese Cross Cabin is a cabin that was used by Theodore Roosevelt, before he was President. The cabin is currently located at the visitor center at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, just outside the town of Medora, North Dakota.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeClear spring (May) or mid-autumn (October) mornings between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM offer the most authentic experience. Sunlight filtering through the small windows of this rugged 1883 pine-log cabin—Theodore Roosevelt's first ranch dwelling—perfectly illuminates his original writing desk and frontier trunks.
Getting ThereConveniently relocated directly behind the South Unit Visitor Center inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Pass the park's main automated entry gates in Medora and park for free inside the expansive visitor center asphalt lot; the historic log structure rests just a brief 50-meter walk behind the museum exit.
Travel Tips
- The cabin sits directly behind the South Unit Visitor Center and is free for self-guided entry; however, the original historic door frame is extremely narrow and stepped, blocking larger strollers or mobility devices.
- From early June to late August, rangers host free historical 'Cabin Talks' at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM; syncing your visitor center arrival with these windows is highly recommended.
- The interior preserves Roosevelt's authentic travel trunk and historic replicas inside a fragile, highly flammable log structure; smoking is banned, and service animals must remain on a leash under 6 feet.
Reviews
Positive
- The authentic log cabin where Theodore Roosevelt lived as a rancher, delivering deeply moving and profound historic value.
- Preserved right behind the South Unit Visitor Center, it's free to tour; the interior desks and President's original trunk are immaculate.
- The park rangers are highly knowledgeable and engaging, vividly narrating stories of TR's rugged frontier life and cattle ranching.
- The trail signs are clear with flat accessible boardwalks, allowing families with strollers or senior citizens to visit within minutes.
Heads up
- The log structure is tiny and micro-scale, containing just three small rustic rooms that take under 10 minutes to browse entirely.
- The interior is cramped; strict capacity limits allow only 3-5 guests inside at a time, resulting in unshaded waiting lines in summer.
- Visitors must stand strictly behind a roped barrier at the door; touching historic logs is forbidden, making the format static.
- For international travelers unfamiliar with US presidential lore, the lack of multilingual text leaves it looking like just an old shack.