Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
We are the Executive Storytellers for the groundbreaking new immersive, interactive museum.
Challenge
Despite being one of America’s most popular presidents, Theodore Roosevelt does not have a Presidential Library. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation (TRPLF) is changing that, with a Library opening in 2026 to honor and learn from our 26th President. TRPLF approached us in their very beginning phases with a vision to help create a world-class institution and museum that will carry TR’s legacy forward and show that we can learn from, not just about, the past.
Solution
As the first hire, FoST came on board as the Executive Storytellers of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) to help establish a vision and storytelling foundation to guide museum development and to ensure a cohesive message across all content, activations, and initiatives. We immersed ourselves in TR’s story and are working closely with the TRPL team to ensure all storytelling efforts embody the Library’s three pillar principles: citizenship, leadership, and conservation. We oversee a variety of unique projects, from the interpretive design of the physical museum itself to the development of a content studio that communicates the TRPL’s mission to audiences across the country.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR EXHIBIT DESIGN
Our involvement with the TRPL began in the project’s early stages. They knew they wanted to be a forward looking, world-class institution. We played a role in selecting both the architectural firm and the exhibit design firm responsible for the execution of the physical museum in Medora, ND, following the TRPL’s goals of creating a space that is at once sustainable, educational, true to TR’s legacy, and an attractive destination for visitors of all kinds. Currently we lead the creative, editorial, and experiential direction for the interpretive design, working closely with TRPL and all partners. We guide all aspects of exhibit design, including curation of content, artifacts, and all-around storytelling for the history-focused narrative galleries as well as the activity-focused experience galleries.
ENSURING COHESIVE STORYTELLING
A key component of our partnership is crafting bespoke materials befitting of the Library’s stature for use in everything from development to onboarding. While the physical Library is still under construction, these print and digital resources provide benefactors, partners, and employees with a cohesive story.
One important early example was the Library’s “Story Guide,” which serves as a reference book, onboarding tool, and style guide for current and future Library collaborators.
SPEARHEADING A CONTENT STUDIO
For the Library to become a national institution, it needed to have a national platform. To help accomplish this, we led the effort to form the TRPL Content Studio, and conceived of several initial projects to help raise awareness about the Library leading up to the launch. With the Library’s support, we have planned, overseen, and released two Content Studio projects thus far: an original podcast, Good Citizen with Ted Roosevelt V, and an augmented reality game, Rangers Wanted. We continue to work with the Library on growing and expanding their content strategy to increase awareness and help share the values of TR beyond the walls of the Library.
