Peaceful Valley Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Inventory Unit Description: The Peaceful Valley Ranch cultural landscape is significant of Ranching and Recreational Resources. It was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The ranch’s original structures underwent numerous alterations but the three buildings that remain represent the small subsistence ranch operation that it was. The various other buildings, that were constructed and later removed, as well as the original ranch buildings served as park headquarters for a short period. The Peaceful Valley Ranch began as a cattle operation, known as the Lamb Ranch, similar in purpose to Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch which was about 28 miles by dirt road to the northwest. The structures were built by B.F. Lamb, an Ohio native who came to the Dakota Territory in 1884. Eventually the property was owned by the Olsen family, who by 1920 started dude ranching operations and developed quest facilities. With the establishment of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the ranch became park headquarters. In 1965 when headquarters moved to its current location, all the structures except the two ranch buildings and the dude ranch hall were removed or demolished. Today these three structures remain. Peaceful Valley Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1994 with a local significance for its association with open-range ranching, dude ranching, the early development of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and architecture that is representative of late nineteenth and early twentieth century design and construction techniques. Overall, Peaceful Valley Ranch retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. Despite the degradation of the buildings and structures, the ranch retains a high degree of integrity as a cultural landscape. The ranch is currently operated by a concessioner as a riding stable, and the buildings are in use as a part of this enterprise. The landscape hierarchy at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is based on significance and association. Each landscape is distinct enough that there are no component landscapes. The North and South Units have cultural landscape features significant for their association with CCC camps and park development. The South Unit is also the location of the Maltese Cross Cabin and Peaceful Valley Ranch. The North Unit is the site of the Elkhorn Ranch.

Peaceful Valley Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

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