The Maltese Cross Cabin Trail
At theodore roosevelt s request ranch managers sylvane ferris and bill merrifield built a one and a half story cabin complete with a shingled roof and root cellar.
The maltese cross cabin trail. It is thought the window frames and front door are original although the latter shows evidence of. It then stood on the grounds of the state capital at bismarck until it was acquired by the park service and moved to the visitor center in medora. It was moved in 1939 when it was the centerpiece of the north dakota pavilion at the new york worlds fair. It is thought the window frames and front door are original although the latter shows evidence of damage and repair.
The original roof had been removed by 1900 and the ceiling and pitched style roof were restored when the cabin was transferred to the park. Roosevelt s maltese cross cabin can be found just behind the visitor center. The original roof had been removed by 1900 and the ceiling and pitched style roof were restored when the cabin was transferred to the park. The trunk was used as a lightweight traveling trunk and three of roosevelt s books were written at his desk.
At roosevelt s request ranch managers sylvane ferris and bill merrifield built a 1 1 2 story cabin complete with a shingled roof and root cellar. Both a trunk belonging to roosevelt and his writing desk adorn the cabin. Photograph of the maltese cross ranch cabin being moved from the north dakota state capitol grounds to theodore roosevelt national park in medora north dakota by a flatbed truck. The maltese cross ranch cabin was originally located about seven miles south of medora in the wooded bottom lands of the little missouri river.
Theodore roosevelt had the cabin built in 1883 at his chimney butte ranch also known as the maltese cross ranch for its brand about seven miles south of its present location. The maltese cross cabin originally stood some seven miles south of medora. Maltese cross ranch cabin being transported collection. Many other furnishings from roosevelt s day can be observed though they were not owned by the former president.
The logs of the maltese cross cabin are the original ponderosa pine used in 1883. The maltese cross cabin originally located about seven miles south of medora in the wooded bottom lands of the little missouri the maltese cross ranch was one of the places theodore roosevelt stayed during his time in north dakota. Built in 1883 the cabin was roosevelt s first home in north dakota though it was located seven miles south of where it now sits. The cabin was larger than most frontier homes of the time with a living room kitchen bedroom and sleeping loft for the ranch hands.
He only used it for a short time before buying a larger ranch and building his elkhorn ranch cabin.