WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Herbert Hoover National Historic Site invites visitors to attend free winter ranger programs in 2014.

Join a park ranger at 10 a.m. on January 18 for a one-hour "Snowshoe Through the Park". The park has some snowshoes to lend. Call (319) 643-2541 to reserve a pair. The hike is suitable for ages 5 and up, will begin at Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, and will cover less than one mile through the tallgrass prairie. Participants must have sturdy boots, and should dress appropriately for the weather and bring water.

Dr. Richard Baker continues his lecture series "Geology of the National Parks", with presentations focusing on Everglades (January 15) and Arches and Canyonlands (February 19). The lectures begin at the visitor center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site at 7 p.m. and last about one hour.

President's Day weekend will be a good opportunity to learn more about our 31st President. On Saturday, February 15 a park ranger discusses "Herbert Hoover's National Parks": special places like Arches, Isle Royale, George Washington Birthplace, Sunset Crater Volcano, and other national parks and monuments preserved by Herbert Hoover's administration. The presentation begins at 2 p.m. in the visitor center.

Following "Herbert Hoover's National Parks" on February 15 will be the grand opening of the historic site's new permanent exhibits from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The new exhibits the stories of President Hoover's childhood in West Branch and how he later helped develop this park which commemorates his life. Refreshments will be offered.

On Saturday, March 29 a park ranger will examine "The Undying Legacy of President Hoover": the many places, events, and objects named in his honor. Archival photos and documents will illustrate his range of influence and the variety of ways he legacy carries on today. Audience members will be invited to share their own remembrances of Herbert Hoover during the program. Meet at the visitor center at 2 p.m.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– On Saturday, September 28, volunteers around the nation will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places - and to celebrate the 20th annual National Public Lands Day, the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in our country.

Volunteers are needed at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa to help plant trees, spread gravel and mulch on the landscape, and wash down picket fences. Volunteers who participate will be rewarded with a coupon for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees.

If you would like to help, contact Adam Prato at (319) 643-2541. Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation and to get signed up. Work will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable work clothes. Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, and hats are recommended. Long pants and closed-toe footwear are required.

The National Environmental Education Foundation coordinates National Public Lands Day. For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit publiclandsday.org.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Dr. Richard Baker continues his series of lectures about geology in our national parks this summer, with presentations focusing on Big Bend (June 19), Yosemite (July 24), and Hawaii Volcanoes (August 25). Dr. Baker is a professor emeritus in the Geoscience Department at University of Iowa. He completed his doctorate research at Yellowstone National Park. He has traveled to many of our national parks and has taught a course on them at the University of Iowa. The lectures are free and last about one hour. They begin at the visitor center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site at 7:00 p.m. on June 19 and July 24, and at 1:00 p.m. on August 25.

The lectures are offered in recognition of President Herbert Hoover's interest in geology and conservation. As a boy growing up in West Branch, Iowa, Hoover collected interesting rocks from along nearby railroad tracks. As an adult, before becoming famous as a humanitarian and later as President of the United States, he and his wife Lou Henry Hoover graduated from Stanford University with degrees in geology. Herbert Hoover turned his formal education into a successful career as a mining engineer, and wrote books and articles about mining. The two Hoovers even translated from Latin the 16th century mining book De Re Metallica, published one hundred years ago in 1912.

A lifelong fishing enthusiast, Herbert Hoover enjoyed also outdoor recreation and valued conservation of natural resources. During Hoover's presidency from 1929 to 1933, the size of our national forests expanded by more than two million acres, and the land area of our national parks and monuments increased by 40 percent.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Historic buildings at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site are closed as a precaution against flooding. Due to high rainfall, Hoover Creek, the small creek that runs through the historic site, is in flood stage. Because additional rainfall is expected, the historic buildings will remain closed as a safety precaution. The Visitor Center will remain open for business 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center parking lot is closed due to flooding; park at the Village Green parking lot across the street. Visitors are encouraged to stay away from the creek banks.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS