150: 5 Fascinating Fun Facts About Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park — it’s one of those national parks that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves. But today, we’re fixing that!  As the show title suggests, we’re taking you around the churned-up, colorful labyrinth of buttes in the quiet North Dakota prairie to share some of our favorite fun facts about Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  In this episode, we cover: Why Theodore Roosevelt National Park was the only unit ever designated a "National Memorial Park" The real story behind how the teddy bear got its name (yes, it has everything to do with Teddy Roosevelt!) How glaciers, ancient volcanoes, and the Little Missouri River spent 65 million years carving North Dakota's Badlands The devastating winter of 1886 that wiped out Roosevelt's cattle herd and changed the direction of his life Why Roosevelt called this land "the romance of my life" and how it helped him grieve and heal The last-minute "Midnight Forests" scramble that protected 16 million acres of land before Congress could stop him Just how much land Roosevelt protected by the end of his presidency Your task for today: In the episode, we talked about the full list of lands Roosevelt protected through executive action. See if a forest, monument, or refuge near you made the cut, and tell us about it over on the @DirtInMyShoes Facebook or Instagram page! Don't miss the full show notes packed with all the links we mentioned so you can plan your adventures like a pro: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/5-fascinating-fun-facts-about-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/ Planning Your Own Theodore Roosevelt National Park Adventure? 8 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Theodore Roosevelt: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/8-things-cant-miss-first-visit-theodore-roosevelt-national-park/  Episode 149: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Best Tips + Activites: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/exploring-theodore-roosevelt-national-park-best-tips-activities/ Master Reservation List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/list/  National Parks Checklist: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/national-parks-checklist/  Trip Packing List: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/pack/