I’ve always been fascinated with history, particularly American history and the lives and times of our US presidents. Before the mid-20th Century, most presidents followed the precedent set by George Washington when he packed up his presidential papers and took them home with him to Mount Vernon. These papers were considered to be the president’s private property. Unfortunately, after his death, his documents traveled in and out of the hands of family members, friends, biographers, and editors with varying degrees of care in preserving the original material.
In 1897, when the Library of Congress was reorganized, it actively sought out such presidential documents. In 1903 its holdings increased yet again when several presidential collections and historical documents were transferred from the State Department. Later presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge donated nearly all their documents to the Library. That institution now holds the largest comprehensive collection of presidential documents from Washington through Coolidge.
The tradition of donating presidential papers to the Library of Congress ended in 1939 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to donate his personal and presidential papers to the National Archives. He was the first president to take advantage of the new legislation authorizing such a library and donated title to the land near his boyhood home to the National Archives. Successive presidents followed suit, including Herbert Hoover who preceded Roosevelt.
Several years ago I decided to visit all of the Presidential Libraries and Museums, in order! Chronologically, Herbert Hoover's was the first and so I set off for a visit to his Presidential Library and Museum. It’s located in West Branch, Iowa.
I booked a ticket on #Delta through #AtlantaAirport to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was fortunate as Delta was flying a 767-300 from #RDUAirport to AtlantaAirport on that day. As a result, I was lucky to enjoy the very spacious flat bed seat. I was assigned 1E for the short ride down to their headquarters city. There are 30 seats in that Delta One cabin in a 2-2-2 configuration. It was fun.
On arrival in Cedar Rapids, I rented a car and drove to the Cedar Rapids Marriott where I spent the night. This is a nice, comfortable hotel, featuring 220 rooms encircling a spacious atrium. The rooms are equipped with smart televisions, satellite programming and video-game consoles are also provided for guests' entertainment. The Concierge Lounge offered complimentary breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres. The Cedar Grille lobby restaurant had a nice and varied menu and I enjoyed a bite to eat there in the early evening. The hotel was clean and the staff was certainly very friendly, all of which made for a most pleasant stay.
The next morning I headed out for West Branch which is about 37 miles away. I arrived when the facility opened at 9:00 AM. I soon learned Hoover’s long and distinguished public career was preceded by his upbringing in this small town. Both periods of his life are represented on the walking tour through the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site which was authorized in 1965 to preserve historical properties associated with his life. Herbert Hoover always had strong feelings for his hometown. In 1935 the family purchased the small cottage where he was born and restored it to its original, early 1870s, appearance. He believed the cottage was “physical proof of the unbounded opportunity of American life.”
Northeast of the cottage is the blacksmith shop, similar to the one his father Jesse operated from 1871 to 1878. This is where young Herbert learned the work ethic that prevailed in this Midwestern community. Also on the grounds is the Friends Meetinghouse. The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, held services of silent meditation here and the wooden benches and the iron stove provided very spartan furnishings for the structure built in 1857. Here, young Herbert worshipped with his family. His mother, a minister, spoke often at the Meetinghouse, encouraging temperance and espousing other causes. The building is authentic, and has been moved two blocks from its original site.
By now it was time for lunch, however, I soon learned there was no place to eat on site. The docent instructed me to walk two blocks down Main Street to the center of West Branch. I was then directed to Reid’s Beans Coffee Shoppe and Cafe. This restaurant was surprisingly crowded for a Thursday afternoon, I took that as a good sign. It didn’t disappoint and I enjoyed a very hearty sandwich and very friendly service.
That afternoon I toured the Hoover Museum. The original museum was designed to be a modest limestone structure of roughly 4,000 square feet costing just under $800,000. It quickly became clear that additional space was required to accommodate growing collections and programs. Four major additions in 1964, 1971, 1974 and 1992 expanded the facility to its current 47,169 square foot capacity. Here you can find papers and collections relating to both President and Mrs. Hoover. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the ensuring Great Depression that gripped the nation and the world, occurred during his presidency. It was dedicated by former Presidents Hoover and Truman in 1962.
President Hoover remained active for his entire post presidential period. Former First Lady Lou Henry Hoover passed away in 1944. From that period until his own death in 1964, the president resided in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The museum contains a replica of his suite at that famous hotel. Among the museum highlights of this period are his correspondence files and scrapbooks as well as his writings and speeches and the records of the two commissions he headed. Other collections include Mrs. Hoover’s materials covering her activities as first lady as well as her longtime association with the Girl Scouts of America.
The president was laid to rest five days after his passing on October 20, 1964 in a simple yet impressive hillside grave overlooking the cottage where he was born. Lou is buried beside him.
I really enjoyed my brief visit to Iowa and learning more about the Hoover Presidency. The next afternoon I headed home and was pleased to enjoy two more on time and uneventful Delta flights; one to Atlanta and the connecting flight back home to Raleigh.
Until next time…safe travels.
Again you don’t disappoint in educating us. It was so informative to learn about President Hoover and his wife Lou and the details about his Presidential Library. What a journey awaits for us as you visit more of these historic places!!