CCC Park Development (North): Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Inventory Unit Description: The North Unit is one of three units in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Located in McKenzie County, the unit occupies 24,081 acres. The cultural landscape is a collection of features that remain from its depression era park development. The features are centered on the construction of a scenic road, which provides vehicular access to the points of scenic and historic interest. The historic road was central to the park master plan and its location, as allowed by topography and as platted by National Park Service engineers, dictates the placement of all other visitor service within the North Unit. It provides controlled access to a series of views and vistas, thereby largely defining visitors’ visual experience. The CCC built the scenic road from Highway 85 to the River Bend and developed areas associated with that road: the Squaw Creek Picnic Area and Campground (now Juniper Campground); Campground Picnic Shelters; River Bend Overlook; and Camp Tender’s Cabin. The North Unit CCC Development cultural landscape is significant for the representation of depression-era projects. The CCC developments in the North Unit were included in a 2002 National Register of Historic Places draft nomination as the North Unit Scenic Drive Historic District. The structures (except for the entrance pylons) have a local level of significance and are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under criteria A and C for their association with National Park Service development of the North Unit as a Recreation Demonstration Area. Under the auspices of the National Park Service and as funded under the National Industrial Recovery Act, CCC crews implemented a planning process and design ethic developed at the national level, and based on significant trends in recreation development and social engineering (areas of significance: Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Recreation; Conservation; Politics/Government). The period of significance extends from initial design in 1934 until the 1941 completion of NPS development efforts within the North Unit. Overall, the CCC developments in the North Unit retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Despite minor losses, the buildings and structures in the North Unit generally retain a high degree of integrity and are integral components of the cultural landscape. Today, the North Unit’s land use and purpose are as the National Park Service envisioned historically. The unit continues to serve as an outdoor recreational destination. 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.

CCC Park Development (North): Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

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