Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - National Park Directory

A one story wood frame house has board-and-batten exterior siding and a picket fence painted white.

Herbert Hoover called his humble birthplace "physical proof of the unbounded opportunity of American life."

Two marble ledger stones each mark a grave in a semicircular landscaped plot with a flagpole.

Two simple marble slabs mark the graves of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover.

A sprawling one story public building of rough-faced yellowish stone has a white portico entrance.

Exhibit galleries and archival collections tell of the triumphs and tragedies of Hoover’s long career in public service.

A low brown barn-like building with three large doorways has a large horseshoe on its facade.

Herbert Hoover's father Jesse owned a blacksmith shop similar to the one at Herbert Hoover NHS.

A one-story wooden building painted off-white has two windows and a central doorway.

Many rural Midwestern towns like West Branch placed a high value on education.

Two doorways, one on either side, of a broad white wood frame building divides the sexes.

The plainly appointed Friends Meetinghouse and the practices within express Quaker values of peace, simplicity, integrity, and service to others.

A cast bronze figure of a veiled goddess sits on a throne mounted on a concrete pedestal.

The people of Belgium gave Herbert Hoover the statue "Isis, Goddess of Life" in gratitude for his famine relief efforts on their behalf during the First World War.

Photos: National Park Service

About Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Orphaned at age nine, Herbert Hoover left West Branch never to live here again. In later years, he returned to his humble birthplace to celebrate his long career of public service. A memorial landscape remains to tell his story: how community, hard work, honesty, and usefulness to others opened a world of opportunity— and the presidency of the United States— to a child of simple beginnings.

Quick Facts

State Iowa

Designation National Historic Site

State Code IA

Weather Spring and fall are mild with moderate temperatures. Average high temperatures in the spring and fall are between 50° and 60° F, with lows from 40° F to 50° F.…

Location & Map

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is located in Iowa.

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Operating Hours

From April 1 - October 31, historic buildings and the visitor center are open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From November 1 - March 31, historic buildings are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the visitor center is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The grounds of the historic site are open 24 hours. Overnight parking is not allowed in the park.

Wednesday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Monday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Thursday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Sunday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Tuesday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Saturday 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Activities

Arts and Culture Craft Demonstrations Food Picnicking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Hiking Front-Country Hiking Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Museum Exhibits

Getting There

Take exit 254 off Interstate 80 to West Branch, Iowa. The Visitor Center is 0.3 mile north of Interstate 80.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358

Phone 3196432541

Email heho_information@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and Building Arts Sculpture Birthplace Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite Commerce Landscape Design Presidents Religion and Spirituality Churches Schools and Education Grasslands Prairies River and Riparian Trails

Things To Do

Be a Junior Ranger at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

The Junior Ranger program helps kids get involved and learn more about Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Anyone can become…

Picnic Where the President Picnicked

Picnic where the President picnicked! Herbert Hoover celebrated his 80th birthday in 1954 at a picnic shelter built by Boy…

Get Started at the Visitor Center

Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where park rangers are available to answer questions and help you get oriented.…

The Visitor Center is currently closed. An information table with the Passport cancellation stamp, Junior Ranger program, and a variety of…

Walk the Nature Trails

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site offers over two miles of trails through the tallgrass prairie and along Hoover Creek for hiking,…

Tour the Presidential Library & Museum

The Presidential Library and Museum is independently operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal…

Visit Downtown West Branch

The West Branch Commercial Historic District is just outside the historic site along Downey and Main streets. It is a…

Visitor Centers

Visitor Center

Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where park rangers are available to answer questions and help you get oriented. Allow yourself about 30 minutes…

Hours: The loop road from the Presidential Library and Museum to the Gravesite and picnic shelters, and the Village Green Parking Lot (on Parkside Drive across from the Visitor Center) are closed to vehicles and parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The grounds are open 24 hours. The historic buildings have reduced hours of operation throughout the winter.

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