National Historic Site Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

1 national historic site

1.1 downey street
1.2 poplar street
1.3 presidential library , museum

national historic site

a statue of isis auguste puttemans, presented hoovers on behalf of belgian government

as herbert hoover birthplace, site declared 28-acre (11 ha) national historic landmark on june 23, 1965. national historic site established on august 12, 1965. when national register of historic places created year later, site automatically listed. complex included twenty-eight buildings, fourteen sites, 8 structures, , 8 objects on 67.49 acres (27.31 ha). in 2013, site redefined include thirteen buildings, 1 site, 2 structures, , 1 object on 119.31 acres (48.28 ha).

the national historic site features west branch several buildings have been standing during hoover s childhood there. 1853 schoolhouse moved site near original location. likewise, friends meetinghouse hoover worshiped has been moved site. jesse hoover s blacksmith shop has been rebuilt. these 4 buildings open free touring. gravesite overlooking cottage can visited. near gravesite tallgrass prairie, designed resemble type of landscape west branch settlers have witnessed. prairie named national recreation trail in 1981.

a large sculpture of egyptian deity isis on property. statue sculpted belgian native auguste puttemans , presented hoover gift on behalf of works country during war. statue decorated hoover s home in palo alto, california. hoovers brought west branch in 1939 [contemplate] house hoover born.

the site includes historic houses on downey , poplar streets belonged significant west branch residents. these houses not open public , house offices.

downey street

laban miles house

laban miles brother-in-law of hulda hoover. miles , hoover families became close friends, , herbert play miles children. laban miles later served rutherford b. hayes indian agent. hoover briefly lived miles family in 1882 on osage nation reservation while permanent plans being made rearing. farmstead owned miles family south of residential district part of park. on downey street amanda garvin house, fine example of gothic revival architecture. charles e. smith house moved site in 1969. smith built house in 1903, after hoover had left west branch. however, national park service decided move house site because of queen anne architecture. sister wife of dr. l. j. leech, lived on street. leech lived in miles house after moving west branch in 1884. while miles family foreclosed on house, leech purchased , lived there. built own house next door in 1920.

hannah varney built house in 1899 after divorce husband. lived there year before moving iowa city , remarried. daughters cora , clara lived in house until 1915. house moved present site in 1967. p. t. smith house west branch house hoover distinctly remembered when visiting town years later. hoover children , smith children played together, particularly enjoying sledding on nearby cook s hill.

poplar street

four houses maintained on poplar street. wright family built house there in 1873. jesse hoover, billy wright blacksmith. e. s. hayhurst built house in 1872, foreclosed on in 1878. real estate developer john wetherell , wife built house in 1872 , sold 4 years later retired dr. john staples. david mackey purchased house in 1869. mackey carpenter , built house himself. shortly after completion, died, leaving house wife, son, , sister. widower elected mayor of west branch in 1879. of houses on 2 streets, mackey , wright houses have been least altered since construction.

presidential library , museum

truman , hoover @ dedication ceremony herbert hoover presidential library , museum.

in 1939, franklin d. roosevelt established first presidential library, collection of presidential papers. donated land , memorabilia government , built structure private funds. developed national archives , records administration tasked oversight. president truman followed suit in 1945, announcing intended build similar library. in response, united states congress passed presidential libraries act of 1955, establishing system of presidential libraries.

hoover intended donate papers alma mater, stanford university, , set small museum of memorabilia in west branch. however, relationship between him , stanford soured in 1950s, hoover decided erect presidential library , museum. herbert hoover presidential library , museum fourth such institution, opening on hoover s 88th birthday, august 10, 1962. 1 of 3 libraries in system include birthplace or boyhood home , gravesite of president.

the opening ceremony dedicated harry truman , hoover gave speech. library , museum rededicated president ronald reagan following massive expansion in 1992. museum part of national historic site requires entrance fee ($5 adults).