From Early Supporter to Finishing Touches: Steffes’ Role in the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Steffes has had the privilege of supporting the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) in Medora, North Dakota, both as an early benefactor and, more recently, as a finishing contractor. Located just 43 miles from Steffes’ headquarters in Dickinson, the 96,000-square-foot library serves as the institutional home for the story of America’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. Featuring more than 40,000 square feet of immersive exhibits, the library brings TR’s story to the very landscape that helped shape his life and legacy.

As a proud supporter of the project from its earliest stages, Steffes watched the vision become a reality. Over the years, that relationship grew beyond financial support when Founder Paul Steffes was approached by Robbie Lauf, Executive Director of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, asking if Steffes could help with finishing touches before the grand opening on July 4, 2026.

With opening day just a few weeks away, Paul headed to Medora alongside Dean Kovash, a long-time design engineer at Steffes, to meet with the project team and assess the request.

During their visit, they learned the library needed custom corner guards and wall plates to be installed throughout the building. Throughout construction, high-traffic walls and corners had experienced wear and tear, and the library needed a durable, high-quality, long-term solution that would blend seamlessly into the finished space.

That same day, Paul and Dean measured every corner and wall requiring a cover before returning to Dickinson, where the Steffes team immediately began designing and rendering a custom solution. About a week later, Paul and Dean traveled back to Medora to take additional measurements, identify new locations requiring protection, and finalize the color selections for each piece. The following day, the drawings were released, key internal teams were engaged, and production officially began.

Over the next two weeks, Steffes’ engineering, fabrication, and powder coating teams worked together to prepare all 75 custom pieces for installation ahead of the library’s opening.

Reflecting on the project, Paul said, “There were 75 pieces of steel that were cut, bent, drilled, countersunk, powder-coated, and then installed. It’s not like this heroic, “we solved a major problem,” but it was a problem for the library. The corners were getting dinged as construction crews completed the final touches, and they needed a quick and reliable solution.”

The week before the grand opening, Paul Steffes, Cole Honeyman, Jacob McMahen, Michelle Wilson, and Redge Reyles traveled to Medora to complete the installation. After a day and a half of installation, every custom corner guard and wall plate was in place, and the Steffes team headed home knowing they had delivered a solution that would protect the space for years to come.

With the installation complete and the library ready to welcome visitors, the project came full circle. A week later, Paul returned to Medora to attend several opening events, where he experienced the completed library and saw the team’s work integrated throughout the finished space.

During the opening events, Paul and his wife, Laurie, visited the Paul & Laurie Steffes Family Gallery, an interactive shooting gallery that recognizes their early support of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Paul describes his initial reaction to the library, “It was such an honor to see it in person. It was beyond what I was expecting. It’s interactive and something everyone needs to experience. It’s geared for all ages from three-year-olds to five-year-olds, to 10-year-olds, and adults. Every exhibit has multiple stories that are very compelling about TR.”

During the opening celebrations, Paul also attended several invite-only events, including a breakfast and greeting with President Donald Trump, where he had the opportunity to briefly visit with the President and take a photo. Later that day, he attended the President’s address at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre in Medora.

Paul also participated in a gathering of North Dakota’s five living governors, where they reflected on the decades of collaboration and support that helped make the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library a reality.

For Steffes, the project was about more than manufacturing custom corner guards and wall plates; it was about delivering quality craftsmanship when it mattered most. Through collaboration, responsiveness, and attention to detail, the team helped ensure the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library was ready to welcome its first visitors, leaving a lasting contribution to one of North Dakota’s most significant landmarks.