Bank of America is a founding sponsor of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and is preserving 100+ presidential portraits for America’s 250th anniversary.

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250^th anniversary, Bank of America recently announced a new partnership to preserve the legacy of the American presidency. Through a $5 million capital gift to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the ongoing assessment and conservation of 110 presidential portraits and frames at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, we are helping preserve the history of the leaders who defined the nation for generations to come.

Preserving the presidency — past and present

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

Opening July 4 and set in the North Dakota Badlands — the place that shaped Theodore Roosevelt’s worldview and leadership — the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will explore the presidency, conservation, civic responsibility and the evolving American experiment. As a founding sponsor, Bank of America is supporting the development of the library and its inaugural exhibitions, including TR’s White House and a featured collection by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly.

As a former official White House photographer who has documented 13 consecutive U.S. presidents, Kennerly’s work transcends any single administration. The Kennerly exhibition opening this fall offers an intimate look at the presidency and the people behind it over the last half-century, as well as the cultural moments that shaped the nation. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is currently being built in Medora, N.D., a project made possible through the dedicated support of state leadership, including Secretary Doug Burgum in his capacity as Governor of North Dakota.

“Bank of America has grown alongside our country by helping people, businesses of every size and communities prosper,” said Chair and CEO Brian Moynihan. “The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library — and the Kennerly exhibition on the modern presidency — reflect Theodore Roosevelt’s belief that strong leadership and democratic institutions drive economic opportunity. We commend Secretary Burgum’s leadership, from his time as governor to today, in advancing a vision that links history, civic responsibility and long‑term prosperity.”

National Portrait Gallery

The sponsorship builds on Bank of America’s long-standing support for historic preservation and public education, including support of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project™.

As part of the initiative, the Portrait Gallery is undertaking a comprehensive conservation effort focused on “America’s Presidents,” its signature exhibition since 1962. The project includes assessment and potential conservation of 110 presidential portraits and frames — including Sigismund De Ivanowski’s portrait of Theodore Roosevelt — many of which have never undergone formal conservation, ensuring these works remain available to the public for generations to come. Following conservation, the portraits will return to public view as part of the museum’s collection and the “America’s Presidents” gallery.

As America approaches its semiquincentennial, these two efforts reflect a shared recognition: history is not only something to preserve, but something to engage — through institutions, leadership and civic participation.

BofA celebrates America's 250

As the nation approaches its semiquincentennial, Bank of America reflects on a defining question in our nation’s story: What would you like the power to do? Over generations, the answers to that question have helped shape neighborhoods, industries and American prosperity and growth.

Throughout America’s history, Bank of America has had the privilege of supporting customers, clients, markets and communities during pivotal moments of growth and change. As the nation developed, we have had the privilege to help it grow.

Explore the milestones that demonstrate how our long-standing support has helped foster growth and opportunity throughout America’s history.

Learn more by visiting About Us.