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Home-School Programming
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is proud to offer programs for homeschool families that integrate art, history, culture, and STEAM through hands-on exploration, gallery tours, outdoor investigation, and more.
All on-site, virtual, and outreach programming for home-school groups is free unless otherwise noted.
Before you visit us for on-site programming, please refer to our parking map and museum building map.
Things to Keep In Mind
- Chaperones: A chaperone-to-student ratio of 1:8 is required. Required chaperones are free. Any additional chaperones must pay $5 for admission. Chaperones are expected to stay with their groups and to monitor their behavior while in the museum.
- Program Scheduling: Programs need to be scheduled at least three weeks prior to the requested program date. If we are able to accommodate a last minute program, payment for the program, if applicable, will be due at the time the program is scheduled.
- Program Confirmation: A program confirmation form will be sent when the program is booked. We require the form to be signed and returned within one week of the program being booked. If the confirmation form is not signed and returned by the deadline, your program will not be scheduled.
- Payment: Payment is due two weeks prior to the scheduled program, if applicable. If payment is not received at the museum before the deadline, the program will be cancelled. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, cash, or checks.
- Refunds: Refunds for cancellations will only be issued with a week's notice. All cancellations are eligible to be rescheduled for another date.
Home-School Programs
Our home-school programs are offered Monday-Friday, September to June. Programs are 60 minutes. See individual program descriptions for program capacities.
- Hoover Pets: Dogs, cats, and what?! Join museum staff in this hands-on, interactive program as we explore life in the White House for both President Herbert Hoover and his pets, including the more unusual ones! This program includes time in part of the museum gallery and our classroom where students will make their own Hoover pet to take home with them.
- Hoover Expedition: We’re going on an expedition! Join museum staff in this fun-filled, hands-on, interactive program as we explore the cultural items of the Hoovers as they traveled around the world! After exploring the galleries, students will create a project to take home with them based on their exploration.
Guided Museum Tour Options (K-12)
Hoover Museum Guided Tour (90 minutes)
- The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is filled with fascinating stories. Let our staff guide your students through the life of President Hoover using a process of student-centered exploration designed to deepen critical thinking and discussion skills, props, and hands-on activities. This tour includes a short movie about President Hoover.
- Available Monday-Friday, September to June between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Maximum on-site capacity: 40
- Also available in a virtual format
Hoover Museum and National Historic Site Guided Tour (3 hours)
- The Hoover Museum and Herbert Hoover National Historic Site includes both a one-hour tour of the Museum, and a one-hour tour of the Hoover National Historic Site where students will see the President’s Birthplace Cottage, the Blacksmith shop and more. This tour includes a short movie about President Hoover.
- Available Monday-Friday, September to June, starting at 9:30 a.m. All tours needed to be concluded by 3:30pm. Please note that a portion of this program takes place outdoors.
- Maximum on-site capacity: 120
Homeschool Tuesdays (60 minutes)
- Cost: $3 per student
- Offered the first Tuesday of every month; September to June
- Registration for this event is coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
- Please let us know if you have any special accommodations or needs prior to your visit. We will make every effort to ensure the trip is successful for everyone who visits.
- We have wheelchairs, fidgets, weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, wobble-seats, and quiet spaces available. Please see the front desk for more information
- There are uneven floors, areas with background sound, areas of low light, and video with sound that is triggered by sensors in the gallery spaces.
- The museum does not have on-site dining or dining space available. However, we are located within the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which has two picnic shelters that may be used if available, as well as the grounds for picnics. For off-site dining options within walking distance, visit the Main Street West Branch website for dining options.
- Absolutely NO food or dink will be permitted in our exhibits. To make sure that our exhibits stay clean and pest free, food and drinks must be disposed of prior to entering the gallery.
- If your group is running late, please call the museum at 319-643-5301 and let us know. While we can not guarantee that we will be able to adjust the program time, we will do our best to work with you to get the most out of your visit.
- Our museum has a gift shop located in the lobby. Depending on the size of your group, there may be a limit as to how many people may enter the gift shop at a time. All students must have an adult present. If students are horsing around in the gift shop, a teacher will be asked to remove the students from the area.
- Students must be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone at all times, and everyone is asked to behave in a respectful manner toward museum staff, other patrons, objects, and the building.
- Groups damaging or destroying museum property, or otherwise not being adequately supervised, will be asked to leave.
- Only items handed to students by museum personnel may be touched. Please remind students all other objects are not meant to be touched. Oils from fingers/hands will damage artifacts and objects on display.
- Please do not sit on or climb on/in the exhibits.
- Food and drinks are NOT permitted in the galleries.
- Please refrain from flash photography in the galleries. The light can damage fragile artifacts and objects.