Roosevelt Arch - Yellowstone North Entrance

Roosevelt Arch marks Yellowstone’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. Completed in 1903, the stone gateway is tied to President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid its cornerstone during a visit to the park. Its inscription expresses Yellowstone’s purpose as a place for public benefit and enjoyment. Stop to look up through the arch and take photos, then watch the nearby meadow for elk or pronghorn. Parking is available close by, so this is an easy landmark stop before entering the park or exploring Gardiner.

A stone gateway built in 1903

Roosevelt Arch stands at Yellowstone’s North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. The road between Gardiner and the park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs was built in 1884. Two decades later, the arch gave the northern approach a monumental entrance.

The idea for a striking gateway came from Hiram Martin Chittenden. President Theodore Roosevelt happened to be visiting Yellowstone during construction and laid the cornerstone at a ceremony in 1903. The arch took its name from him, although it was not originally planned as a memorial to the president.

The inscription and the view through the arch

The words carved into the arch express that Yellowstone is for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. They come from the legislation that established the park and connect the monument to the idea of public access.

The arch is made from native columnar basalt and rises about 50 feet. The current park road bypasses it, so take time to stop and walk beneath the structure rather than seeing it only from a passing vehicle. Look through the opening and up at the stonework. The nearby open meadow can also attract mule deer and pronghorn; observe wildlife from a safe distance.