Dickinson in Stark County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Speech
In July of 1886, a young Theodore Roosevelt gave his first major public speech right here in Dickinson, North Dakota. Roosevelt had been asked to give the Independence Day speech by Dr. Victor Stickney, the man who had patched up Roosevelt's feet following the boat thieves' episode. Dickinson was celebrating the holiday in a big way; a witness noted that everyone was so enthusiastic about the parade that the bystanders kept joining it, leaving no one watching it!
I am myself at heart as much a westerner as an easterner;
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Like all Americans, I like big things; big parades, big forests and mountains, big wheat fields, railroads — and herds of cattle too; big factories, steamboats and everything else. But we must keep steadily in mind that no people were ever yet benefited by riches if their property corrupted their virtue. It is more important that we should show ourselves honest, brave, truthful, and intelligent than that we should own all the railways and grain elevators in the world... I am myself at heart as much a westerner as an easterner; I am proud indeed to be considered one of yourselves, and I address you in this rather solemn strain today only because of my pride in you and because your welfare, moral as well as material, is so near my heart.
Clay S. Jenkinson. Theodore Roosevelt in the Dakota Badlands: An Historical Guide, 2006
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1886.
Location. 46° 52.919′ N, 102° 47.074′ W. Marker is in Dickinson, North Dakota, in Stark County. Marker is on 3rd Street East just east of Sims Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located on the Stark County Courthouse grounds, directly in front of the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 51 3rd Street East, Dickinson ND 58601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Place (here, next to this marker); The Man (here, next to this marker); Stark County Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); SPC Jon Paul Fettig (approx. 0.6 miles away); May Hall (approx. ¾ mile away); Klinefelter Hall (Scott Hall) (approx. ¾ mile away); Stickney Hall (approx. ¾ mile away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Doing as our forefathers did...
Text of Theodore Roosevelt's Independence Day oration in Dickinson, Dakota Territory, in 1886. The pamphlet was created for the 1958 Theodore Roosevelt Centennial Symposium.(Submitted on December 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 21, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.