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.

• 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/