Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the Hoover Museum?

The Hoover Museum is located 1/4 mile off Interstate 80 at Exit 254, West Branch, Iowa. West Branch is 10 miles east of Iowa City on I-80 and 50 miles west of the Quad Cities.

Is there parking? 

A large parking lot is located adjacent to the museum where you can park your car for free.

Where can I park my RV, trailer or bus?

You can unload at the entrance to the Museum. When exiting the drive to the museum take a left and just a few feet down the street on the right is a parking lot that can accommodate these vehicles.

How do I make reservations for my group to tour the Library and Museum?

If your group is larger than twenty we make every effort to find a tour guide if you make reservations in advance. There is no reduced admission price for groups. Please call 319-643-5301 to schedule a group or fill out this request form.

How do I make reservations for a school group to tour the Library and Museum?

The Herbert Hoover Library and Museum welcomes schools. Students and teachers are always admitted free of charge. One free chaperon is allowed for every 10 students in attendance. Home schooled groups are allowed one free adult per family. If additional chaperons attend they will be charged $10.00 if they are between the ages of 16-61; 62 and over is $5.00.

Please use the online tour form to schedule a tour, the School Field Trip guide has helpful information for planning a visit.

How long does it take to tour the Hoover Library and Museum

The Museum tells the life and times of Herbert Hoover and also features a large temporary gallery with changing exhibits. In the auditorium a twenty minute movie tells Hoover's life story. Oustside the Museum doors is the Hoover National Historic Site which features Hoover's birthplace cottage, grave-site and period buildings. To experience both the Museum and the National Park please allow 2-3 hours.

Are the building and exhibit areas handicap accessible?

Yes, the entire museum, auditorium and park is wheelchair accessible. Visitor drop-off for patrons with disabilities is at the front entrance to the Museum. Handicapped parking is available in the lot next to the Museum.


Are wheelchairs and strollers permitted in the Museum galleries?

Yes, both are permitted. There are wheelchairs available at the Sales Desk that visitors may check out free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Is food available at the Museum?

The only food available is candy and water that is sold in the Museum Gift Shop. There are restaurants in the town of West Branch and visitors are able to have their tickets stamped and then return free of charge.

May I take photographs inside the galleries?

Photography is permitted with no flash in the permanent galleries as objects are sensitive to light. No photographs are allowed in the temporary galleries.

Are there restrooms located inside the Museum?

Yes, there are handicap accessible restrooms located in the Museum lobby.

Is there a Gift Shop at the Library and Museum?

Yes, the Gift Shop is located just off the main lobby. Visitors may also access the Gift Shop from the website. You may visit the Gift Shop without paying admission to the Museum Galleries.

May I bring my pet to the Hoover Library-Museum?

No, only working or service animals are allowed inside the Library and Museum. Pets may be outside on the park grounds if they are on a leash.

How can I find out about employment opportunities at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum?

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is part of the Presidential Libraries System administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), an independent federal agency. Official job listings are posted on USA Jobs. See the links below for more information:

Who decides where a Presidential Library and Museum should be located?

The President, with advice from the Archivist of the United States, makes the decision about the location of his Presidential library. In consultation with his family, friends, and associates, he usually selects from a series of proposals submitted by interested communities or universities.

Presidents have often acknowledged their origins by placing their libraries in their hometowns. However, in some cases Presidents place their libraries on or near a university campus.

How is a Presidential library paid for and funded?

A Presidential library is constructed with private or non-Federal funds donated to non-profit organizations established usually for the express purpose of building a Presidential library and supporting its programs.  Some libraries have also received construction and development funding from state and/or local governments.

The library is then transferred to the Federal government and operated and maintained by NARA through its congressionally appropriated operating budget.

Some staff and programs at Presidential libraries are paid for with funds from associated private foundations organized to fund the construction of the library. These private foundations also provide continuing support for library programs and special events, such as conferences and exhibitions.

What is the role of a Presidential library foundation?

Presidential libraries carry out a mandated program to preserve, process, and make available their archival holdings. As part of providing access, the libraries and museums provide outreach and educational programs.


Presidential libraries and museums, their websites, and the scholarship they promote benefit in significant ways from private organizations established to support such programs.

In several cases, these organizations evolved from bodies chartered to raise money and construct the original Library building. In other instances, these organizations were formed after the dedication of the library by friends of the President.


Also, it should be noted that, starting with the George Bush Library, all future Presidential library foundations must provide an endowment to NARA to help offset facility operating expenses. This endowment is presented to NARA and is used by the government to support facility maintenance needs.