The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will close in preparation for renovations starting Jan. 20. The renovations mark the first time in over 30 years that the museum will see significant updates.
Located at 210 Parkside Drive in West Branch, the museum will remain open only through Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum will be closed for the rest of 2025, with plans to open in Summer 2026.
As stated in a release from the National Archives and Records Administration, which oversees presidential museums, the galleries and exhibit spaces will be transformed and modernized. Multiple upgrades to the museum include creating immersive experiences for visitors of all ages to learn the life stories of Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover in new ways.
There will also be a small expansion to the main museum lobby and gift shop, and a new façade at the front of the building.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum Director Tom Schwartz said in the release that these updates offer unique opportunities to reshape the Hoover Story into clear, interactive moments for visitors.
“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 in the release. “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 how the renovations also offer 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,” Mr. Schwartz said in the release. “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 museum closure will not impact the facility’s Research Room, as researchers are still welcome to access the library’s holdings. An appointment is strongly encouraged, and prospective researchers are advised to contact the library in advance so that staff can offer guidance and prepare materials. The surrounding outdoor Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will also remain open during the museum’s closure.
