Trip Idea

A Half Day in Herbert Hoover's Hometown

Multiple Parks

Seven adults walk down a tree-shaded park sidewalk.
Duration Half Day
Topic(s) Architecture and Building, Birthplace, Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite, Prairies, Landscape Design, Monuments and Memorials, Presidents, Schools and Education, Churches, Commerce, Great Depression more »
Activities Junior Ranger Program, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Museum Exhibits
Type Kid Friendly, Relaxed, Educational, Indoors, Outdoors, Group Friendly more »
Parks Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Activities
  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

    Get Started at the Visitor Center

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Museum Exhibits
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A uniformed ranger at an information desk assists a park visitor.

    Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where park rangers are available to answer questions and help you get oriented. Allow yourself up to 30 minutes in the Visitor Center, which is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

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    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Junior Ranger Program
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
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    The Junior Ranger program helps kids get involved and learn more about Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Anyone can become a Junior Ranger by completing activities during a visit to the park or at home.

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  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

    Explore Herbert Hoover's Hometown With the NPS App

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Self-Guided Tours - Walking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    A promotional image shows three mobile phone screens displaying app pages and maps.

    Use the NPS App on your visit to West Branch, Iowa, and discover the places and people that shaped the early life of the 31st President.

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  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

    Take a Self-guided Tour

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Self-Guided Tours - Walking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    Mothers walk with their young children in a park with bright autumn foliage.

    The grounds of the historic site are open 24 hours a day. Pick up a map at the Visitor Center or download the NPS App to your phone. Then visit the Birthplace Cottage, Blacksmith Shop, Schoolhouse, Friends Meetinghouse, Statue of Isis, Gravesite, and other historic features of the park.

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  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

    Tour the Presidential Library & Museum

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Museum Exhibits
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum
    • Duration: 1–3 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A sprawling one story public building of rough-faced yellowish stone has a white portico entrance.

    The Presidential Library and Museum is independently operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency. Permanent galleries exhibiting artifacts of President Hoover's life take you from his boyhood in Iowa, through his public service career, and final years in New York.

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  • Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

    Visit Downtown West Branch

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Self-Guided Tours - Walking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: West Branch Commercial Historic District
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day, Night
    A detail photo of a building cornice shows courses of red and orange decorations.

    The West Branch Commercial Historic District is just outside the historic site along Downey and Main streets. It is a national historic district which preserves fifteen downtown buildings built from 1875 through 1929. The buildings house shops and restaurants.

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Last updated: February 4, 2021