NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service Washington, D.C.
	Contact:	Office of Communications (202) 205-1134

US Forest Service lands in North Dakota listed on the
National Register of Historic places

WASHINGTON, October 1, 2012 – The U.S. Forest Service announced today that two iconic properties tied to Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy, the Elkhorn Ranch and Greater Elkhorn Ranchlands in North Dakota, are now on the National Register of Historic places.

The Elkhorn Ranch was owned and operated by President Theodore Roosevelt prior to the turn of the 20th Century, with the ranch often referred to as the “Cradle of Conservation” by conservation organizations. The Forest Service has nearly 4,000 historic sites listed on the national registry.

“Teddy Roosevelt would be very pleased today,” said US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “This designation officially puts Elkhorn Ranch on the map as a destination for Americans who want to visit and learn more about one of our true ‘cradles of conservation.’ ”

The Forest Service purchased the land in 2007 for its historical significance, with the support of multiple partners including the Boone & Crockett Club, Friends of Elkhorn Ranch, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and some 20 other American wildlife conservation partners.

Nomination efforts began in 2007 with field inventory and historical assessment. The National Register nomination went through several iterations to address concerns identified during the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office and public review processes. The size of the historic district was reduced and now comprises 4,402 acres of National Forest, National Park Service and private lands. Land management activities on national forest lands within the National Register district will not be restricted because of this largely honorific national designation.

The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Forest Service lands contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $27 billion per year.

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