Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

This site is on the same grounds as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. They are just a short walk apart. You can view the Hoover birthplace house and view a film chronicling the President’s history.
This is a National Historic site, so bring along your National Parks passport to get stamped.
Plan on spending at least ½ day for both the museum and the national historic site.

So, we stopped here while driving across the country. We had a lot more driving to do, so we just visited the nps site, watched the film et. al. We got our stamps and then, we walked around the little historic area behind the museum. They have the cabin that Hoover was born in, his humble beginnings and what he went on to accomplish are very impressive. He definitely gets a lot of flak for being in office when the Great Depression struck.
The Herbert Hoover presidential library is just next door, though it does charge admission.

The site is very interesting but there isn’t much there. It is pretty intimate and cool to stand in the small cabin where Hoover was born. The whole site took no more than half an hour to see. Certainly worth stopping by but not going out of your way.

If you’re passing through the area I highly recommend stopping here for a bit. It’s right off the freeway and you won’t be disappointed.
The small town has been perfectly preserved and gives a glimpse into what life was like in the late 1800s, early 1900s. When I was a kid we learned about small towns like this, and how school was at the turn of that century, so it was really cool to see the little schoolhouse with its Washington and Lincoln portraits and wrap-​around blackboard. It was easy to imagine a teacher lecturing students in the one-​room building. The other buildings were interesting as well, especially the Hoover house. It was like stepping back 100 years.
The Hoover Library is right nearby, as is the grave of President and Mrs. Hoover. The grave is very modest and from there you can see his birth house. It was very humbling.
In addition, there is a field near the grave which was planted with native foliage, so you can see what Iowa was like before it was turned into farmland.
Stop by, you won’t regret it.

Had more to offer than I would expect considering it honors a president I disrespect.

We love going to National Historic Sites/​Parks/​Monuments, etc. so we were happy to find this one relatively close to our hotel during our trip.
We were not disappointed at all!
The Visitors Center staff were knowledgable and friendly. They started the movie for us when we were ready. They told us a little about the area and provided recommendations on touring the park.
The coolest thing about this place: the tour wands! There is a special map with each location numbered. You check the wand out (for free) and enter the number for the location and listen to information about that location. It is absolutely awesome! Don’t have to worry about wind blowing your map around or trying to dial someplace from your phone.
The NHS is clean and well kept. We spent three solid hours touring it. We learned a tremendous amount of information about Herbert Hoover which was fantastic!
There are period houses, a blacksmith (who was there and working), and the House in which Hoover was born. If you listen to each of the recordings and visit each house, plan on being there at least 2 – 3 hours.

This is a beautiful place with a lot to look at and learn about. The grounds are beautiful. We were in town for Herbert Hoover Hometown Days (first weekend in August) and really enjoyed ourselves and all of the interesting activities. The fireworks on Saturday night were FANTASTIC! We were so impressed. I look forward to visiting again!

Our nations Quaker commander in chief and his shrine in sleepy Iowa was first visited by me in 70s and ill never forget its history.

I went to the Hoover Dam in Nov 2012, and it just may have changed my life. Seeing that amazing structure made me want to learn more about both Herbert Hoover and the country in general.
So a few months later, I found myself here, in his hometown, and burial grounds. This is a terrific national monument site, it is super well organized and laid out. It is well thought out. The brochures are clear and easy to understand.
The person behind the desk was knowledgeable, thorough and very kind.
I would get here early in the day if its hot, there is a lot of outside walking here. Watch the movie, its under 15 min. Then take a tour of the grounds, learn about the buildings, Hoover was Quaker, there is a Quaker meeting place there as well. You will learn a lot about the man who brought us the Hoover Dam.
Then go to where hes buried next to his wife. Very nice area.
There is ample parking here. It’s well marked. You can drive from some areas to others as well.
The town is very nice as well, nice little coffee shop, and few antiques stores etc.

This is a great stop on a nice day if you are into presidential history, American history, or think your kids should be. I wouldn’t recommend it in inclement weather, as most of the sights are outside, and you have to walk from building to building.
The grounds are well kept and very pleasant. The tour is self guided which is nice, and this is one of the national park service sites that is free. The way the site is set up. it is not difficult to imagine life in this era, which is quite an accomplishment in my opinion.
The visitor center was closed for renovations on the day we came through, although the rangers posted outside were more than happy to share some information on the site and let us know the brochure had much of the same information as the movie we had to miss.
Directly behind the HHNHS, is the Presidential Library and Museum. There is a small fee for admission if you are over 15, but free if you have an annual pass to the presidential libraries (there are 12) no matter where you obtained it.
From I-​80 it is only about a five minute drive off the highway and worth a stop, especially since you can decide how much or how little time to spend.

Visiting on a summer’s day the thing that impressed me most was the grounds. The weather was beautiful and the grounds were impecable. Walking through the small sections of streets that included President Hoover’s birthplace cottage and other buildings from his early childhood, I enjoyed the quiet Iowa countryside and was drawn to the grass. Living in the desert the past 6 years we don’t have too many grassy areas, and I threw caution to the wind, slipped off my shoes and walked barefoot through the grass as I used to enjoy as a kid living in the midwest.
The President’s birthplace cottage was smaller than I imagined. Born there in 1874 he said the cottage was «physical proof of the unbounded opportunity of American life.» Down the street was a large cow — which just called photo op to me. Not sure if it is always there or that was a special occassion.
The Presidential LIbrary is located on the grounds, as are the burial place of the President and first lady. I didn’t tour the library and only discovered the burial point after we left the site. If you are driving through Iowa, take a rest and visit this piece of American history.

The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, IA is a collection of buildings associated with the life of Herbert Hoover, the first president born west of the Mississippi River. If you are driving I-​80 and take the West Branch exit, you can’t miss this site on the left.
The National Historic Site has the house that HH was born in. It was just a small house and it’s apparent that HH has come from very humble beginnings. HH and his family were also Quakers and the old Quaker Meeting House that the family attended was moved to the property. There is also other buildings on the property from old West Branch such as a blacksmith shop.
The Visitor Center has all the information you need to tour the area. The people there are very friendly and helpful. Visiting the site costs nothing and you can spend several hours there.
President Hoover and his wife are also buried on the property. Their graves are set back in a small plot away from the main buildings.
There isn’t much to see in Iowa, but the HH NHS is a great place to stop while traveling the interstate.