
WEST BRANCH, Iowa – The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in this community will close on Monday, Jan. 20, for extensive renovations. It is scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2026.
Multiple upgrades to the museum will 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. The project also will 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 said 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,” Mr. 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.”
Mr. 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,” he added. “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.”
The upcoming closure will not impact the facility’s Research Room, as researchers are still welcome to use and access the library’s holdings. An appointment is strongly encouraged, and prospective researchers are advised to email [email protected], write, or call the library at (319) 643-5301 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.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will remain open through Sunday, Jan. 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is one of 15 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.