On behalf of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine,
it's 1912, Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, that
Theodore Roosevelt was aboard on August 18, 1914, while campaigning for
Progressive Party candidates between Lewiston and Portland, Maine. I
attended and participated in the first TeddyCon event hosted by
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota - October 9-11, 2026.
I arrived in Dickinson, ND, late Wednesday afternoon, October 7th.
Update October 17, 2026
This post shares photos and a couple of videos of my time at the Presidential Library.
Tap any image to enlarge it. It might be easier to read/view...
Sunset at Dickinson on Wednesday night, October 7, 2026
Sunrise at Dickinson on Thursday morning, October 8, 2026.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is in Medora, ND
Thirty-two miles from Dickinson to Medora, ND. The speed limit
on the highway the max speed is 80 mph. Quick travel time :)
The landscape is very different from that along the Maine coast :)
Above is a field of sunflowers.
Bales of hay
The landscape changes as Medora nears.
Exit for Medora and the TR Presidential Library
Entering Medora.
Medora sign on the hill as I drive up to the Library.
This map is available to members when they check in for their admission.
The map shows the campus. Before checking in for Library admission, I walked
on the #3 Conservation Rooftop. I used my phone and recorded the walk.
The link to the recording is after this series of map images.
Map locations.
The West Wing entrance is above, in the open inner pathway on the left. The East Wing
entrance is opposite the West entrance on the right. General admission to the Library
is inside the West Wing.
A map segment with guidelines.
A photo I took before walking along the Conservation Rooftop on the right.
Below is the link to the recording of my walk along the Conservation Rooftop.
The public entrance to the Library is at the open inner pathway
between the West Wing and East Wing is
between the two vertical poles seen in the center of this image.
Looking up, the parking lots are located further up the hill.
The open inner pathway. West Wing to the left. East Wing to the right.
West Wing entrance on the left.
East Wing entrance on the right.
When you walk into the West Wing entrance, the Library store is to the right.
From the Library store end, the restaurant is straight ahead on the left.
In the center, you check in for admission.
You receive one of these. The round compass rose is used to scan
for an AI series of images using a selfie you sign in with.
Generally, you keep it on your wrist and turn it in when you are about to leave the Library
I chose to keep it dangling from my shirt.
After you have the compass rose, you stop at one of these units
on either side of the hallway. You sign in and take a selfie that can
be used in a few scan options. You'll see a scan option image as you
walk through several of the Library rooms. After you are done
with the Library, the scan images created are sent to you via email.
Email you receive with the links to the AI images from scanning.
The list and links to the seven scans I did that were emailed to me.
I also used my phone to take a photo of the scan AI results.
Serving in the Navy - Use your compass rose to scan the compass rose
at the bottom of the framed image of TR, which then becomes
your selfie in the AI, replacing TR. Photo I took
Leading as President - Photo I took
Journeying into the Amazon - Screenshot edited of the image emailed to me.
Joining the Rough Riders - Screenshot edited of the image emailed to me.
Working on the Police Force - Screenshot edited of the image emailed to me.
Ranching in the Badlands - Full image emailed to me
Life in TR's New York - Screenshot edited of the image emailed to me.
Just a few images of the many I took while walking through the
West Wing of the Library - Incredible :)
Interior replica of the Elkhorn Ranch
Theodore Roosevelt Day at the Maysville Museum
Front panel of the tri-fold brochure released
Mirror from Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota.
Wilmot S. Dow's grandson, John A. Dow, donated this
TR artifact, along with two other precious, personal TR items,
to the Presque Isle Historical Society. John Dow's father,
Wilmot E. Dow, was a "Badland Baby". Wilmot E. Dow's father,
Wilmot S. Dow and William Wingate Sewall were Maine guides
who became lifelong friends with Theodore Roosevelt.
PWM photo with the reflection of (l-r) TR, Wilmot, and Bill in
Island Falls in March 1879 from the TR Collection
in the Houghton Library, Harvard University
Click here to view the post on the three TR items at the Presque Isle Historical Society
Entrance to the East Wing
During my visit on Thursday, October 8, 2026, there was an event
taking place in the East Wing. I visited to see where my exhibitor
display would be located. I would be arriving early the next morning to set things up.
Theodore Roosevelt Center (TRC) - Thursday evening gathering - 10-8-2026
Dickinson State University Student Center
Early Thursday morning, I decided to wear a shirt I created back in 2015
for the first fundraising weekend for the Narcissus at the
Seashore Trolley Museum. I had 100 shirts made. This one was the only one
that was kept by me and not used until this day :)
Click here to view the post from July 31, 2015, Narcissus fundraiser, Teddy Roosevelt Days. Members from the Theodore Roosevelt Association attended. Sagamore Hill National Monument staff attended. TR-related book authors too!
Sunrise Thursday morning in Dickinson
Sunrise Thursday morning from the hill to TR Presidential Library
in Medora.
East Wing back loading area at the Library.
The trunk full of materials to be used to set up the exhibitor display.
My shadow as I walked back to help Barbara Shockey, the Library Events
Coordinator, with rolling the loaded cart inside.
The cart. The view from where the exhibitor display is on the right.
Incredible. I use that word a lot when describing my experience
here at the Library.
The Library store opposite where my exhibitor display will be.
The "before" view of where the display of items will be.
The "after" view :)
Again, the Library store. The Library had sold all 64 of the books
acquired for the grand public opening on July 4th, 2026. At the end of
the weekend, the Library store acquired 94 more books :)
Earned three national book awards. The Maine Historical Society
created eight lesson plans for grades 6, 7, and 8, based on key
historical subjects in the book. We also created many vocabulary
activities and reading/writing activities for grades 3-8.
Click here to view examples of the vocabulary activities for grades 3-8 with links to access all classroom plans
Back cover
West Wing
Store on the right. Public admission toward the left of the store.
10:30 pm - Friday night
Saturday, October 10, 2026 - Sunrise in Dickinson
Me :) Saturday morning - 10-10-2026
You can see the exhibitor display inside on the left - East Wing
Short recording below of the view from outside where the exhibitor display is.
Other exhibitor tables on the left side of the corridor.
One is Donna Sewall Davidge. Poster of Donna. She is standing in front
of her great-grandfather (far left), William Sewall. Then Wilmot Dow
(William Sewall's nephew), then Theodore Roosevelt. This photo
was taken in Island Falls, Maine, late in February, 1879. The photo
of Donna, standing in front of these three, was taken at the
Seashore Trolley Museum during the 2018 Teddy Roosevelt Days
fundraising weekend for the Narcissus.
Click here to view the July 2oth, 2018, Teddy Roosevelt Days weekend event
Me, Joe Banavige, Donna Sewall Davidge, and Donna's friend.
Click here to view the post about the first time I met Joe Banavige in May 2017. Theodore Roosevelt Center in Dickinson contacted me to introduce me to Joe. Asking if I could help him during his visit to Maine. Joe would also be visiting Donna Sewall Davidge, while staying at the Sewall House in Island Falls, climbing Mount Katahdin, and "following in TR's footsteps" in several other locations!
Click here to view the post about the first time I met Donna Sewall Davidge when I was in Island Falls, Maine, to check out Theodore Roosevelt's Bible Point location. It was very interesting :) 10-6-2015
Lots of turkeys walking around the Library campus :)
Close-up of exhibitor items
Sunday - October 11 - Deer crossing the road on the hill to the Library.
Sunday setup was a little different when the silent auction ended Saturday.
The exhibitor table next to me during the three days.
Owner and staff from Brazil :)
Donna's exhibitor table
Cleaned up after Sunday at 2 p.m., end of TeddyCon.
Saturday, October 11. Packed up and ready to head out
I returned to visit the Library on Tuesday, October 13. I wanted to walk around a bit.
Parking area
View from the parking area.
Some photos from inside the West Wing.
From the Library store.
The restaurant.
Outside the entrance to the West and East Wings, looking up at
where the parking areas are located.
As you leave the West and East Wings entrance area, you have access to walking trails.
Parking areas are to the right in the back.
The recording below is me walking the trail in this image.
I left later in the afternoon on Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday - October 13
The Narcissus is one of the original six Portland-Lewiston Interurbans
built in 1912. W. S. Libbey was the owner of the business that created
the electric interurban line. His two daughters encouraged him to name
each of the six after his favorite flowers. In 1920, a 7th luxury
interurban was built. It was named Maine, to celebrate Maine Centennial.
Click here to view the series of posts about the history of the Narcissus, including when TR was a passenger.
Click here to view the post on the Narcissus in the National Register of Historic Places
TeddyCon was created by the Theodore Roosevelt Center and the
Theodore Roosevelt Association, combining their annual meeting/symposium.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Narcissus is the "Elegant Ride" in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger aboard the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, while campaigning for Progressive Party candidates between Lewiston and Portland, Maine.
Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project
Click Here: for 3rd Grade Lesson Plans - Example for Viewing the Vocabulary Activities for Grades 3-8
Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View
Click Here: For the post with the numerous Novelty Notes Connecting Theodore Roosevelt, Maine, and the "Elegant Ride," Narcissus
We continue restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts
More than a century old, the stately "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem. This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including time, places, people, and events that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents first captivate, fascinate, then generate interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by donating today!
Click Here: Donation Options for Helping the Narcissus
Restoring this majestic icon, Narcissus, of Maine's electric railway history is one in a series of captivating stories containing incredible coalition narratives.
Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban
Click Here: Series of posts featuring the Founding of the Trolley Museum in 1939
Click Here: for the post on Brochures of the STM 1955-2025
Click Here: to see Donation Options to Help Civil Rights Bus 6481
Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding the
Gold Book Award Winner plaque for the Middle Reader
category for the Eric Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author Jean M. Flahive 😊
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