MEDORA The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, is almost ready to open.Watch the full video below: First look: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library to open for Americas 250th AnniversaryThe $450 m illion library had a soft opening for donors Friday, but the grand opening for the public will be Saturday, as the country celebrates its 250th Independence Day.The building is 96,000 square feet and sits on a 93-acre campus nestled in the Badlands, on the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.It features artifacts from Roosevelts life and an interactive museum, depicting the life of the 26th president of the United States.Most museums you go to, you see objects under glass you really cant touch. Here, we want you to be able to explore, said the librarys Chief Communications Officer Matt Briney.Briney expects 2,000 guests to show up for the grand opening Saturday.Theodore Roosevelt was president during the 125th, so he stands right in the middle between our nations founding and where we are today, he said. Visitors of the library can enter immersive experiences, such as sitting by a campfire exhibit depicting Roosevelts Elkhorn Ranch.The library also features Roosevelts journal from 1884, when his mother, Martha Mittie Bulloch Roosevelt and his wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt, died. Roosevelt famously wrote, The light has gone out of my life, and marked a large X on the page, before heading back to the Dakota Territory. Jake Barton, founder of Local Projects, collaborated to design the museum, giving MTN an in-depth glimpse into Roosevelts life.Theodore Roosevelt was a man of action and also a man of words. He was the biggest reader and biggest writer, author of any president. But he was also a soldier. He was a hunter, said Barton. Hes the only president for whom hes claimed by the far left as well as the far right.Barton showed MTN other artifacts from Roosevelts life.One of those artifacts included a cartoon of Roosevelt from his time as a police commissioner.You can see his signature glasses and mustache, almost highlight him as the original meme creator of the 19th century, said Barton. He basically understood very, very early how to work the media. The wooden, curved exterior of the museum was made to blend in with the landscape. Landscape architect Michelle Delk told MTN she spent time camping at the site where the library now stands.We really began to think aboutthe landscape is the library itself, said Delk.She said the campus was created to feed into trails, so visitors can enjoy the surrounding environment.You can start right here to go on a hike or go on a bike ride or even a horseback ride, said Delk. Roosevelt first visited the Dakota territory in 1883 to hunt bison.He became the nations youngest president at 42 years old in 1901, following the assassination of President William McKinley. He was elected for a full term in 1904.Roosevelt is known for creating several national parks and monuments, as well as leading the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War in 1898.I hope they notice the impact Roosevelt had on this country. He was (an) amazing, resilient fellow, who was a terrific leader, said donor Greg Tschetter, a former Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Board member.Visitors can view the librarys ticket page here. ...read more read less