About Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum opened to the public on August 10,1962, Mr. Hoover's 88th birthday. In the years since, more than 2.5 million visitors have toured the museum and more than 2,000 scholars from every state in the union and a dozen foreign countries have utilized the library's seven million pages of documentary holdings. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is one of the Presidential Libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, a United States government agency. In recent years, the Library and Museum has been transformed into a nationally recognized center for the study of twentieth-century history and the American presidency. Simultaneously, the Library had redoubled efforts to locate and collect documentation pertaining to the Hoover Era. In addition to the papers of Herbert Hoover, the manuscript holdings include those of Lewis Strauss, Gerald P. Nye, Felix Morley, Clark Mollenhoff, Robert E. Wood, Westbrook Pegler, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, among others. More than 150 collections make the Library an important center for the study of conservative journalistic thought, agricultural economics, famine relief, atomic energy, and governmental reorganization. Ten thousand square feet are devoted to seven museum galleries telling Hoover's fifty years of public service.
How to Get There
The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and the Hoover Birthplace Cottage lie within the 186-acre Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, located in West Branch, 10 miles east of Iowa City, just off Interstate 80 at Exit 254.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
Heading to Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum?
No central reservation system listed for Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/200008) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum?
The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and the Hoover Birthplace Cottage lie within the 186-acre Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, located in West Branch, 10 miles east of Iowa City, just off Interstate 80 at Exit 254.
How do I contact Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum?
You can reach the park at phone: (319) 643-5301 or email: hoover.library@nara.gov.
References & Official Resources
