Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum announces temporary closure for museum renovation

Starting January 20, 2025, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will close its museum in preparation for renovations. For the first time in more than 30 years, the Hoover Museum will undergo a massive renovation, transforming the current museum spaces and galleries.

Multiple upgrades to the museum include creating an immersive experience for visitors of all ages to learn and understand the stories of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover in new, engaging ways. It will also bring a small expansion to the main lobby and gift shop, and a new façade at the front of the building.

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum Director Tom Schwartz says these improvements offer unique opportunities to reshape the Hoover Story into clear, interactive moments visitors will enjoy.

“This project allows the Museum to tell, and the public to be inspired by, the stories of Iowa’s only President and First Lady of the United States in ways that compel all types of learners,” Schwartz said. “Visitors will discover a reimagination of these stories and moments in history using multiple senses, allowing visitors a chance to gain a new perspective on the Hoovers and the times they lived.”

Schwartz emphasized this project also serves as a chance to use newer information and expert research to bolster the visitor experience.

“Our role at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is to protect and maintain the records and stories of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover,” Schwartz said. “This initiative is not a rewriting of history; it is an opportunity to update and refresh how moments in history came to be throughout the lives of the Hoovers’, and through their continued legacy.”

As of Monday, January 20, the Museum will be closed the rest of 2025, with plans to open in Summer 2026.

This will not impact the facility’s Research Room or educational programming. Researchers are still welcome to use and access the Library’s holdings. An appointment is strongly encouraged, and prospective researchers are advised to email hoover.library@nara.gov, write, or call the Library at 319-259-8331 in advance of their visit so that the staff can offer guidance about the amount of materials on a given topic and can prepare in advance for the researcher's arrival.

Educational programming for school groups, Scouts, youth, and adults, will also continue during the museum renovation. Please contact hoover.education@nara.gov to discuss these programming opportunities.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will remain open through Sunday, January 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, Iowa, 52358.

Please note the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site remains open during this time. Please begin your experience by first reviewing the information available at www.nps.gov/heho for up-to-date information about the site and your visit. The National Park Service Visitor Center is located at 110 Parkside Drive with vehicle, bus, and RV parking adjacent.  

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The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is one of fifteen presidential libraries that are part of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum tells the story of the life and times of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. It is located just off Interstate 80 at Exit 254, 10 miles east of Iowa City, the Presidential Library and Museum is found within the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, a 187-acre park administered by the National Park Service. There is an admission fee to tour the galleries. For more information, visit https://hoover.archives.gov or call 319-259-8331.