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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, IA

Photo: Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Dr · West Branch, IA

Why you should go…

This National Park Service site preserves the West Branch neighborhood where Herbert Hoover was born in 1874. You can step into the two-room birthplace cottage, just 14 by 20 feet, see a blacksmith shop like the one his father ran, and visit the Friends Meetinghouse and the first West Branch schoolhouse. Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover are buried here, and an 81-acre restored tallgrass prairie is part of the grounds. The park charges no entrance fee; the Presidential Library and Museum is separate.

  • #presidential birthplace
  • #national historic site
  • #herbert hoover
  • #tallgrass prairie

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

    Under $25

    See galleries on Czech and Slovak history and immigrant life, a large collection of folk dress, and a Prague-style astronomical clock.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Amana Colonies

    Free

    Wander seven historic German villages with a working woolen mill, bakeries, craft shops, restaurants and small museums.

    29 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Iowa 80 Truckstop

    Free

    Browse a huge trucker's store, eat at several restaurants and see antique rigs at the free trucking museum off I-80.

    29 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Maquoketa Caves State Park

    Free

    Hike six miles of trails linking about 13 caves, a 50-foot natural bridge and a 17-ton balanced rock.

    43 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Field of Dreams Movie Site

    Free

    Walk the baseball diamond cut into an Iowa cornfield for the 1989 film and tour the original farmhouse.

    59 mi awayMore like this