Just in time for President's Day on Monday, February 17th, 2014, people can get a new look at a President who grew up just west of the Quad Cities.
On Saturday, February 15th, 2014, the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa held a grand opening of its new permanent exhibits.
"The new exhibits tell the stories of President Hoover's childhood in West Branch and how he later helped develop the park which commemorates his life," according to a press release.
"This story of a child of such simple beginnings and telling how he became a President of the United States and it should be inspirational to people," says Superintendent of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, Pete Swisher. "Now, they can look at their children and say you too could become President if that's what you choose to do."
The new exhibits feature artifacts, archival photographs and documents, text panels, and audio-visual programs. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, as well as the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, are open daily from 9am to 5pm. Both are located off Interstate 80 at Exit 254.
"We get only a moment of people's time when they come off the Interstate," says Swisher. "It gives us a chance to tell a consistent story about who a young Herbert Hoover was and how somebody can come from such a modest background and eventually become President of our country."
On President's Day, archivist Craig Wright will present "Presidential Parade" at 2pm at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. The event is described as "a fun look at our presidents and the presidential library system. It includes stories and images of presidents connections to both Herbert Hoover and fellow Iowan, Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Jay 'Ding' Darling."