Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and burial place of Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States (1929–1933), located on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. The library is one of thirteen presidential libraries run by the National Archives and Records Administration. In 1954, a group of Hoover's friends incorporated the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation to raise money for the preservation of his birthplace and the area around it, and to plan for improvements to the site. One of their ideas was to build a small museum, and with Hoover's approval work began in the late 1950s. The architectural firm of Eggers and Higgins of New York drew the plans for the original building, a modest limestone structure of just over 4,000 square feet. While the museum at West Branch was still under construction, Hoover decided to expand it and to make it his Presidential Library. The Library and Museum was officially dedicated and opened to the public on August 10, 1962, Hoover's 88th birthday. Hoover and former President Harry S. Truman were present at the dedication. Hoover began his speech by saying, When the members of the Congress created these presidential libraries they did a great public service. They made available for research the records of vital periods in American history – and they planted these records in the countryside instead of allowing their concentration on the seaboard. Already the three libraries of President Roosevelt, President Truman, and President Eisenhower, by their unique documentation, serve this purpose, and today we dedicate a fourth – my own. Within them are thrilling records of supreme action by the American people, their devotion and sacrifice to their ideals. Santayana rightly said: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it." These institutions are the repositories of such experience – hot off the griddle. In these records there are, no doubt, unfavorable remarks made by our political opponents, as well as expressions of appreciation and affection by our friends. We may hope that future students will rely upon our friends. In any event, when they become sleepy they may be awakened by the lightning flashes of American political humor. The original Library and Museum building was expanded several times, with major additions being completed in 1964, 1971, 1974 and 1992. The architects for the 1964, 1971, and 1974 expansion projects were Wetherell, Harrison & Wagner Associates. On August 8, 1992, former President Ronald Reagan rededicated the Library and Museum. The rededication was the result of a renovation project that expanded the library to 47,169 square feet (4,382.1 m2). The $6.5-million expansion was a public–private partnership, with Washington supplying $5 million for bricks and mortar, supplementing $1.5 million raised by the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association for new exhibits. The architects for the 1992 expansion were HNTB Corp. Holding almost 300 collections, the Library is an important center for the study of conservative thought, agricultural economics, famine relief, commercial aviation, political journalism, government efficiency and reorganization, isolationism, and U.S. foreign policy. In addition to the papers of Herbert Hoover, the manuscript holdings include those of Lewis Strauss, Gerald P. Nye, Felix Morley, Clark Mollenhoff, Robert E. Wood, Westbrook Pegler, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, among others. The Library and Museum is located within the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, which contains Hoover's birthplace, a reconstruction of Hoover's father's blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a Quaker meeting house, and – on a hill overlooking the Library and Museum and Historic Site – the graves of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover.

The Gruwell and Crew General Store is one of the oldest buildings in West Branch, Iowa. Mayor S.C. Gruwell and J.C. Crew built the structure in 1894, it operated as a music store, harness shop, shoe repair shop, and as a variety store. In 1964 the West Branch Heritage Foundation converted it to a museum. The building has its original false-front facade and wooden ceiling, floor and walls. It is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District. Preservation Iowa has listed the Gruwell and Crew General Store on its most endangered list, citing its deteriorating condition and lack of support.

The downtown district of West Branch, Iowa is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District. Multiple architectural styles are represented. The historic and endangered Gruwell and Crew General Store is also part of the district.

West Branch is a city in Cedar and Johnson counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,509 as of the 2020 census. It is the birthplace of the only American president born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover. The Johnson County portion of West Branch is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The West Branch Community School District is a rural public school district headquartered in West Branch, Iowa.It spans across western Cedar County and eastern Johnson County, and serves the city of West Branch, and the surrounding rural areas.Marty Jimmerson has been the superintendent since 2018, after leaving AGWSR Schools.

Springdale Township is one of seventeen townships in Cedar County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,857.

Centerdale is an unincorporated community in Cedar County, Iowa, United States.

KSUI (91.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classical music format. Located near Iowa City, Iowa, United States, the station serves the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. The station is currently owned by Iowa Public Radio, Inc. It is the flagship station of Iowa Public Radio's classical music network. KSUI broadcasts in HD.

Downey Savings Bank is a historic building located in the unincorporated community of Downey, Iowa, United States. The bank was charted and this building was constructed in 1903. The two-story, brick building is an example of an early twentieth century commercial bank building. At the time it was built the town had several other businesses. The bank continued in operation until 1932 when it was closed during the National Banking Holiday. Because its capital was not large enough to meet the new federal banking regulations it was consolidated with the West Liberty Bank. John Bashor opened a grocery-hardware store in the building in 1935, and operated it here until 1961. The building housed a grocery store from 1961 to 1972. After an attempt to convert it into a pool hall and cabinet shop, it became a pottery in the mid 1970s. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Downey is an unincorporated community in Cedar County, Iowa.

Oasis is an unincorporated community located in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It lies within section 26 of Graham Township, and was once known as Graham, Iowa. It is part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, the town had a total population of approximately 20. It contains several homes, a cemetery, and a functioning grain elevator. It was once a stop on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway, later the CRI&P, whose bed has now become the Hoover Nature Trail which runs from Oasis to West Branch. West of town is the Oasis Cemetery. Oasis once featured a sign that greeted visitors, but it disappeared.

Downey School is a historic building located in the unincorporated community of Downey, Iowa, United States. Built in four months in 1905, it was designed by Waterloo, Iowa architect J.G. Ralston and built by Frank Chapman, also of Waterloo. The two-story brick structure features quoins on the corners and Roman arches as its main decorative elements. The building had a cupola, but that was taken down at some point. It is believed that the building originally housed 1st through 12th grades. After 20 years the high school grades were moved to West Branch, Iowa. The school itself closed in 1955. The Wapsie Valley Grange Society acquired the building and they used it for their meetings into the 1970s. Tim and Madonna Rex bought the building from the Iowa Grange Society in 2017 and since then have been in the process of converting it into a bed and breakfast inn. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.