The 14 th Park in the 9 th State was Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Dr., West Branch, IA.

 The Visitors Center was closed and the Park Ranger was sitting at a table on the sidewalk greeting guests.  Peak of their tourist season and they decide to remodel?

The Hoover family were Quakers and he was born in this very small cottage

Hoover's father was a blacksmith.  The park department has setup a blacksmith shop near the home and you can ask questions and see him heat iron to red hot!!

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.

One could question the need for the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, but it is adjacent to, but not a part of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.  As is the case with all the Presidential Libraries I have visited it is well worth the trip.  This library is very well done, informative and educational.  It should be the National Historic Site.  This just doesn't make sense.  Truman Library with the same deal.

I have been good about not digressing to other things we have seen on our parks trips, but I have to throw this in.  Almost adjoining West Branch, IA is Iowa City, IA the home of the University of Iowa.  We had never been there, in fact before this trip I couldn't have told you what city the University of Iowa was in.  Whow!! It is big and beautiful!!

Bye for now