On Wednesday, September 14, 2016, we entered Iowa. As I said before, we love to visit Presidential libraries and homes and while driving we just stumbled onto the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch.
I have to admit I just didn't know anything about President Hoover and his library and museum really opened my eyes to what a humanitarian he was.
This is what I found online:
Born in a two-room cottage, Herbert Hoover could have been any small
town boy. Orphaned at age nine, he left West Branch, never to live here
again. The landscape and buildings of the early years remain, however,
to tell how family, faith, education, and hard work opened a world of
opportunity— even the presidency of the United States— to a child of
simple beginnings.
He loved to fish and here he is!
A replica of his office.
Before serving as America's 31st President from 1929 to 1933, Herbert
Hoover had achieved international success as a mining engineer and
worldwide gratitude as "The Great Humanitarian" who fed war-torn Europe
during and after World War I.
Early in his term on May 8, 1933 Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Interior changed the name of this huge dam back to "Hoover Dam" from the name "Boulder Dam". After 14 years congress felt compelled to pass a joint resolution to change the name back to "Hoover Dam" in honor of the United States 31st president. So the saying - The Dam So Nice They Named It Twice! :)
After the United States entered into WWI, President Woodrow Wilson appointed
Hoover head of the Food Administration. He succeeded in cutting
consumption of foods needed overseas and avoided rationing at home, yet
kept the Allies fed.
Hats that belonged to the former first lady, Lou Henry Hoover. She must have looked most spiffy!
Now outside we're looking at the the grounds of Herbert Hoovers home and surrounding buildings.
Here is the tiny two-room house where the 5 hoovers lived (parents and 3
children). Hoover's father's blacksmith shop is across the way from the
back of the house. The Quaker Meeting House is just up the block.
I captured these beautiful morning glories growing up the column on the back porch of Herbert Hoover's little birthplace. I thought it was just so pretty. If you ever get the change to visit here, you will enjoy it and learn more about our 31st President.
Happy trails,
Shelia
