BLUEPRINTS of the Hoover birthplace cottage
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch IA
WEST BRANCH ARTIFACTS include Quaker religious items, furniture and accessories of the Hoover family, and a toy train that belonged to the young Bert Hoover.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY ARTIFACTS include a catalog, books, yearbooks, and a survey sketch of the university campus created by Hoover as an engineering student.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch IA

Herbert Hoover was born in a 14' x 20' dwelling that consisted of one main living area and one tiny bedroom for five family members. Following his parents' deaths in 1880 and 1884, the three Hoover children were separated among relatives, and 11-year-old Bert was put on a train to Oregon to live with an uncle. Young Hoover was treated well, but he became determined "to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere."

At the age of 17, he was off to Stanford University in California to earn a degree in geology. Tuition was free, but several part-time jobs were needed to pay living expenses. After graduation, his first job of hauling ore was not his idea of getting ahead! In 1897, Hoover landed a position with the international mining firm of Bewick-Moreing, and headed for the gold mines of western Australia .