"It is a pleasure now to say a few words to you at the laying of the cornerstone of the beautiful arch which is to mark the entrance to this park. Yellowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the world so far as I know. Nowhere else in any civilized country is there to be found such a tract of veritable wonderland made accessible to all visitors . . ." With these words, President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the arch at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park in a ceremony on April 24, 1903. On August 25, 2003, the National Park Service will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the dedication of?what has fondly become known as - the Roosevelt Arch. August 25 is also National Parks Day, and entrance fees to Yellowstone National Park will be waived for the day.

Activities will begin at 10:00 am at the Roosevelt Arch, with the First Corps Army Band of Fort Lewis, Washington, providing a musical program. At 10:30 am, special invited guests will take their place on stage, and the ceremony will begin. Special invited guests include keynote speaker Theodore Roosevelt IV, great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt; National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, Mary Hagemeyer, President of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce; and Alan "Doc" Harkins, Grand Master of the Montana Masonic Lodge. At the end of the National Park Service commemoration (around 11:30 am), the Montana Masonic Lodge will be doing their own ceremony with a re-dedication of the Roosevelt Arch and participation of a Roosevelt re-enactor; the Montana Masonic Lodge was instrumental in the 1903 dedication and arranging President Roosevelt's participation.

In the early years of Yellowstone National Park, most visitors came through the North Entrance. Visitation increased in 1903 when the Northern Pacific Railroad reached the adjacent town of Gardiner, Montana. The Arch was built to serve as a formal gateway to the park. The entire structure is 50 feet high, with two distinct towers - each 12 feet square at the base, tapering to 6 feet where the arch begins. The main opening is 30 feet high and 25 feet wide. The rocks in the Arch were hewn from basalt, a volcanic rock, which was quarried locally. The Arch was completed in September 1903; President Roosevelt never saw the finished Arch. Above the arch is carved: "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People." A second carving on one tower reads "Yellowstone National Park;" and the other tower's carving notes "Created by Act of Congress, March 1, 1872."

Special interpretive programs and community activities will be held throughout the weekend leading up to Monday's celebration. A flyer listing those opportunities is attached with this news release.

Also see Historic Roosevelt Arch and Gardiner, Montana for more information.