TRC and DSU HF Staff Attend First Annual TeddyCon
From Friday October 9th through Sunday October 11th over three hundred historians, educators, public officials, conservationists, and Theodore Roosevelt enthusiasts congregated at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) in Medora, North Dakota for the first ever Theodore Roosevelt Convention, or TeddyCon. Hosted by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) and the Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC), attendees celebrated the past and discussed the future with a convention theme of “Looking Back, Moving Forward.”
The weekend was packed with events, including the traditional keynote addresses, lectures, and panel discussions. Alongside the new name and location, TeddyCon introduced several new activities to attendees. "The festivities extended to guided tours of the TR National Park, the Library, and the Elkhorn,” said TRC Co-Director Dr. Michael Cullinane. “Visitors watched an exclusive performance of the new theater production Princess Alice and the folk music of Mason Via. TeddyCon even had a live podcast session with the hosts of Talk About Teddy." Institutions from across the country and abroad joined the celebration, including the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, Friends of Sagamore Hill, Harvard University, and the Library of Congress. “Having all these groups and TR enthusiasts together in one spot really shows the strength of our field and helps us look forward to more joint events and successes in the future,” added TRC Co-Director Erik Johnson.
Attendance was made up of familiar friends and plenty of new faces. "People arrived from almost every state and from international locations like Kenya, Brazil, and Jordan,” said Dr. Cullinane. Staff from the DSU Heritage Foundation (DSU HF) also made their way to Medora for TeddyCon. "It was truly a world-class event and a celebration of everything Theodore Roosevelt stood for,” said DSU HF Community Engagement & Events Manager Robyn McChesney. “The venue was exceptional, the speakers were outstanding, and the atmosphere fostered meaningful conversations and connections."
As TeddyCon concluded Dr. Cullinane re
flected on the weekend’s success, noting that “the event proved that Dickinson State University is at the epicenter of Theodore Roosevelt Studies." With the new events and expanded audience, the first TeddyCon built a promising foundation for the TRC and TRPL’s dedication to preserving and advancing Roosevelt’s legacy.
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Written by Sarah Griffis – DSU HF Content Writer
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