Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum – West Branch, IA

The first thing we noticed was the building – small and rather unassuming. Upon entering there was this small town welcome feeling instead of all of the security and metal detectors evident in others we have visited. This was to be a rather unique experience, down to earth, sincere and educational.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa is within the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. In addition to the museum the site houses Hoover’s birthplace cottage, blacksmith shop, Quaker Meeting House, school house, and the gravesite of President and Mrs. Hoover.

Birthplace Cottage

The museum chronicles the president’s life from his birth in Iowa to his final years at the Waldorf Towers in New York City. Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River. The exhibit also details his life as a mining engineer working worldwide. His humanitarian work was tireless and worldwide, and is also on display.

Waldorf Office

Although as a cabinet member, Secretary of Commerce, he warned national leaders of a possible financial disaster, when the Great Depression occurred Hoover was blamed since he was president. As fast as his popularity climbed, it fell just as swiftly. His bid for re-election failed and the Hoovers continued their humanitarian work. Hoover, who modeled his life after the Quaker principles, was the first Quaker president the U.S. had. Richard Nixon was also Quaker.

The museum also houses a wing dedicated to WWI with artifacts, depictions of battle encampments, information and descriptions of life on the battle front.

The museum may be small but is packed with the life and times of President Hoover and Mrs. Hoover and the era in which they lived. We enjoyed our visit and our walk through history. Unique in another way, the Hoover Presidential Foundation began as the Hoover Birthplace Society in 1939. A different presidential library and very much worth a visit.