Theodore Roosevelt National Park

On Monday, we visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit.

On display in the Visitor's Center: Theodore Roosevelt's 1877 Triple Barrel Baker Rifle (two 12 gauge shotgun barrels are positioned overtop a 45-70 rifle) -- Carl was wondering if Jimmy thinks that this would give him more success with squirrel hunting in Virginia.

In the yard of the visitor's center is the cabin that Theodore Roosevelt built on his property in North Dakota.

The ranger talk that we attended told us that the steeply pitched roof would not be common in this area of the country where snow does not fall so deeply nor so wet -- a less steep sod roof would have been more common, giving less space inside the cabin to require heat.

Current placement of the cabin

The Maltese Cross embedded in the end of a log.

As we were leaving the visitor center, these two were quietly awaiting their owner's return.

As in other national parks, a large number of stopped vehicles often means that some kind of local animals are to be observed...

... in this case, there were bison on the hill to the side of the road...

... it looked like a mixed group of youngsters and full grown.

A little ways further, the road took us through a prairie dog town - this one was sitting on his front stoop...

They are cute...

... I would think that local ranchers are not in love with them...

... though the park information indicated that their habit of keeping the grass closely cut...

... provides good grazing for the larger foragers.

This was the area of the prairie dog village with buttes beyond.

An overlook in the park -- looking west along I-94 toward Montana...

... and looking toward the town of Medora - our campground is just out of sight behind a small hill.

There were lots of flowers on a bush at the overlook, and lots of bees gathering provisions.

Even though it has been quite hot during our visit, we know that winter is not far for this area of the country! We're hoping to find some cooler weather soon!