Hoover Presidential Foundation

Uncommon Student Award Presentations
2025-11-15 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | IA
Stanley & Helen Howe Presentation Day
The Rooftop Ballroom – Courtyard by Marriott Iowa City, University Heights

USA Alumni Social
2025-11-14 18:00 - 20:00 | IA
UI Athletics Hall of Fame – registration required

Veterans Day
2025-11-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join a park ranger for a special talk about Herbert Hoover’s relationship with the US military and veterans.

Members Book Club 4
2025-10-16 15:30 - 16:30 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join us as we cover a selected title related to Herbert Hoover.
All are welcome whether you have read the book in its entirety or not. This event is designed to be an engaging discussion, where all viewpoints are encouraged.
Email gbierman@hooverpf.org to register.

National Public Lands Day
2025-09-21 10:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
This is a nationwide, volunteer-led workday to improve public lands. Contact the park for more details.

Behine the Scenes: Museum Renovation Insights
2025-08-09 13:30 - 14:30 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join the Hoover Presidential Foundation for an in-depth presentation by Matt Solari, Vice President of Creative Story at BRC Imagination Arts, the firm leading the design of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum. Featuring a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum renovation.
Rummells Center – 127 W. Main Street West Branch, IA
FREE – Open to the Public

Birthday Luncheon & Life Celebration
2025-08-09 11:30 - 13:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Join us for a special Birthday Luncheon and Life Celebration honoring the 31st President of the United States.
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Lawn of the C.E. Smith House
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
in West Branch, Iowa
This special event will include a catered luncheon and remarks from:
Matt Solari
Vice President of Creative Story, BRC Imagination Arts
Leading the redesign of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum.
Tom Schwartz
Director, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
Pete Swisher
Superintendent, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Members Book Club 3
2025-06-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States

National Get Outside Day
2025-06-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
This annual event is intended to inspire and motivate Americans to get outside for a “healthy, fun day of outdoor adventure.”

National Trails Day 2
2025-06-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Adventures are meant to be shared. National Trails Day is a great opportunity to meet new people in your area and share a fun experience on a local trail. Join a Ranger for a guided walk to explore the restored tallgrass prairie.

White House Elegance: Hoovers in the White House
2025-05-15 17:00 - 19:00 | IA
Join us for an evening of history and sophistication at our Exclusive Member Event!
Discover the charm and grace of White House entertaining during the Hoover administration. Sarah Fling, Historian from the White House Historical Association, will share captivating stories about how the Hoovers brought elegance to the White House through their hosting and entertaining style. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
Enjoy sample dishes inspired by the Hoovers’ favorite recipes, complemented by a selection of wines.
While dressing up to match the evening’s elegant theme is encouraged, it is not required—come as you feel comfortable!
Location: The Black Rose (former Brick Arch Winery) 116 W. Main St., West Branch
Time: 5-7pm (Presentation at 5:30pm)
Click Here to RSVP by May 12

Members Book Club 2
2025-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States

National Junior Ranger Day
2025-04-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
The Junior Ranger Program is a great way to explore national parks. You can learn about nature sounds, night skies, fishing, wildland fire fighting, and Herbert Hoover NHS.

Member Day Trip to Waterloo
2025-04-15 08:15 - 16:00 | IA
Be a part of an exciting day of learning, friendship, and an exclusive behind the scenes experience! Explore the history surrounding the birthplace of Lou Henry Hoover in this easy, fun-filled day trip. Transportation, admission, and a hot lunch buffet are all covered in the cost.
Visit the Lou Henry Hoover Sculpture Park, tour the Grout Museum District, and get a rare VIP tour of the Grout Museum District’s collections storage and workspaces.
Click here to learn more.

We Can Do It! A Celebration of Women's History
2025-03-24 10:00 - 2025-03-28 13:30 | IA
Best for grades 3rd-adults.
The Hoover Presidential Foundation and Hoover Presidential Library-Museum are pleased to present 10 performances of Bright Star Touring Theatre’s We Can Do It: American Women in History, made possible through grants provided by Aegon TransAmerica and Pella Rolscreen. There will be two shows daily March 24-28, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., each with audience capacity of 250 persons per show. Classes are invited to attend AT NO COST. Due to limited seating, reservations are required. Space will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment with our show We Can Do It: American Women in History. This is the perfect show to inform and inspire audiences, girls and boys alike! An incredible adventure featuring some of the world’s most remarkable female pioneers, your audience will discover incredible and groundbreaking women like Amelia Earhart, Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony, Lou Henry Hoover, and more! Honor the women of America by bringing your students to this uplifting production.
This year’s venue is West Branch High School in West Branch, Iowa. For questions, please email hoover.education@nara.gov or call 319-643-5327, Register here.

Day of Service Solicitation Day
2025-03-08 09:00 - 15:00 | IA
Sign up for a volunteer shift as part of our Day of Service events in March at the Dodge Street Hy-Vee in Iowa City. We will be soliciting donations to help stock the food shelves at the West Branch Food Pantry. Register here for a shift.

Lou Henry Hoover: Challenging Conventions Since 1898
2025-03-04 11:00 - 14:00 | IA
This program uses primary sources to explore the unconventional life of the First Lady as well as Women’s Suffrage.
This is an online event. Time options available at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
In-person options are available. If you have any questions or would like to speak with Bridget, you may reach her at hoover.education@nara.gov or via phone at 319-259-8346.

Presidential Film Festival
2025-02-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
To celebrate President’s Day, the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will host a presidential film festival. Come and enjoy the official park films from three other National Park sites. The films will be shown in the theater at the park’s visitor center.

Talk, Text, and Televise: Communication in the White House
2025-02-13 11:00 - 14:00 | IA
Join Bridget, and the Education Specialists from the Truman and Johnson Presidential Libraries, as they discuss communication technologies used within the White House.
This is an online event. Register here. Time options available at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm.
In-person options are available. If you have any questions or would like to speak with Bridget, you may reach her at hoover.education@nara.gov or via phone at 319-259-8346.

Members Book Club 1
2025-01-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join us as we cover Great Presidential Wit: A Collection of Humorous Anecdotes and Quotations by Bob Dole. We will be joined virtually by Kerry Tymchuk, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society, who co-authored with Bob and Elizabeth Dole in the writing of four books.
All are welcome whether you have read the book in its entirety or not. This event is designed to be an engaging discussion, where all viewpoints are encouraged.
Email gbierman@hooverpf.org to register.

Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator 10
2024-12-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum as they explore the 1929 Christmas Eve fire at the White House with objects from our museum collection.
This free monthly program allows visitors to see items from our collection that aren’t typically shown in our galleries. Speak with archivists and Museum staff in an informal setting about a specific topic each month.
Staff will be available from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., and again from 2-3 p.m. CST. Registration is not required.

Holidays with the Hoovers
2024-12-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Celebrate the holidays with the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum with our final Family Day of the year! All of our Family Day events contain family-friendly STEAM based fun, but this one has a twist! Each of our stations is tied to a holiday movie with trees decorated in the style of the movie on display at the Hoover Presidential Foundation! This event is free with the cost of admission.

A Christmas Past
2024-12-06 17:00 - 2024-12-07 20:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Take a step back in time as you stroll through the park’s historic neighborhood decorated and illuminated in period-appropriate, festive style. The park staff and volunteers invite the public to a holiday celebration with seasonal music, crafts, and refreshments.

Festival of Trees
2024-12-06 10:00 - 2024-12-07 20:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Themed Holiday Movie Magic, explore beautifully decorated trees inspired by your favorite holiday movies.

Festival of Trees Member Reception
2024-12-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Members of the Hoover Presidential Foundation are welcome to join us for the kickoff to our annual Festival of Trees. Themed Holiday Movie Magic, explore beautifully decorated trees inspired by your favorite holiday movies.
Register here.

New Years Hike
2024-11-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Start the New Year out right and join a park ranger at Herbert Hoover NHS for a 2-mile hike, with a shorter option at the 1-mile point. No reservations required for this hike. Meet at the park visitor center. Dress for the weather! The route will be determined by the conditions.

Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator 9
2024-11-15 11:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we will be showcasing pieces of Native American artwork collected by the Hoovers during their travels to the American Southwest.
This free monthly program allows visitors to see items from our collection that aren’t typically shown in our galleries. Speak with archivists and Museum staff in an informal setting about a specific topic each month.
Staff will be available from 11 a.m.-12 p.m., and again from 2-3 p.m. CST. Registration is not required.

Looking Ahead: Peek behind the Curtain of the Museum Renovation
2024-11-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join us for this exciting event, either online or in-person, where Matthew Solari, Vice President of Creative & Story at BRC Imagination Arts, presents exciting updates on the renovation of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. This is a terrific opportunity to gain valuable insight into the project and have your questions answered. Don’t miss out on this informative session!
This is a unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and ask questions directly to someone with extensive experience in the field. Don’t miss out on this informative session!
Options are available to join online or in-person at the Hoover Presidential Foundation.
For those joining online, a link will be sent to attend via Teams. Space will also be available for in-person attendees at the Rummells Center at 127 W Main Street in West Branch.
Register here.

Veterans Day Program
2024-11-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
When Herbert Hoover became President in 1929, the care of America’s veterans was one of the nation’s most pressing issues. At the start of the Hoover administration, veteran services were vested in three different, overlapping agencies. Under Hoover, these agencies were combined into a single Veterans Administration. During the Great Depression, thousands of veterans came to Washington, DC to protest and call for an early payment of a promised bonus for their military service. The controversial response of the Hoover administration to this protest is still a topic of debate among historians. A ranger will give a one-hour talk on Herbert Hoover and veterans.

Uncommon Student Award Presentation Day
2024-11-09 09:00 - 16:30 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Watch 15 Iowa high school seniors present their community-minded enterprise projects at this year’s Stanley and Helen Howe Presentation Day for the 2024 Uncommon Student Award Program. Each participant will receive an award between $1,500 and $11,500 to be applied toward their secondary education.
You can choose to attend either the morning or afternoon sessions or spend the entire day with us supporting these hardworking students, as they exemplify Herbert Hoover’s legacy of serving those in our community. Presentations will be given in Figge Auditorium at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.
Morning Session: 9:00-12:00
Afternoon Session: 1:00-3:30 followed by Award Ceremony
